Update! Moving right along.

Chapter 14

Grimmjow stood at the gate, gazing out onto the deserted road. It felt good to finally be out of there. It had been such a long time. Seven years. Seven very long years in that hellhole. He knew he had been in there for a valid reason and he didn't regret choosing to go. But, now that he was out, he was ready to move on with his life. He was ready to try to do the right thing. He had gotten some help while he was in prison, so he couldn't say it was all bad. Therapy for his emotional trauma, as the therapist had called it. He had to go to a lot of group therapy which he wasn't happy about. He had to learn how to channel his anger into something more productive. That had been the hardest thing to do. He had a lot of anger and he wanted everyone to feel, to understand just how angry he was.

There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think about Ichigo and how he had treated him. The letter the boy had written stayed by him every step of the way. Grimmjow refused to try to forget why he was in that place. He refused to forget the reasons he had been so fucked up in the first place. His stupid actions that cost him part of his life and the one he loved more than life itself. He never let those memories stray from his mind.

Thirty-two and given another chance, he was ready to do things right. He was ready to go down the opposite path that he had been. It sounded so religious, but it was far more different to him from that. It was life, his life and he needed to think about it in a better light if he wanted to be happy. That didn't mean he would be a whole completely new person, it just meant that he would take different actions in getting exactly what he wanted.

And Ichigo? He wanted Ichigo more than anything else, but he didn't think it was meant for him to have the boy. He really didn't believe in fate or chance meetings. He felt that if he wanted it that bad, he should search for it, but Ichigo was something he thought he should just leave alone. He desired the orange haired man, but that desire was a taboo and he would have to restrain himself from taking a bite.

Grimmjow made his way down the sidewalk, his legs slowly taking him to his destination. He fixed his duffle bag over his shoulder, realizing just how lightweight it was. It made him feel like he had lost everything that once was his, but it was good to start fresh. No matter how good he felt, he still couldn't find it in him to crack a smile or throw out a bout of laughter. He was tired and he just wanted to rest before doing whatever he decided to do.

His legs stopped in front of a familiar building, the place not looking any different from seven years ago. He sighed and slowly made his way up the concrete stairs and pushed open the glass door. He walked to the elevator and pressed the circular button. He hoped he hadn't gone there only to be disappointed. Stepping into the lift, he pressed the numbered button and let it take him up. When it stopped, he stepped out.

He slowly made it down the hall, trying to ignore the doors he was passing by. The moment his apartment came into view, he stopped. He didn't turn to look at it, but glanced from the corner of his eye. That place held way too many memories and he was glad that it was no longer his. He was glad that he would never be able to set foot in that place ever again. His feet moved again, bypassing the place he once called home.

He continued to walk down the dull looking hallway, the dark brown carpet torn in various places and the cream-colored walls looking bland as always. Nothing had really changed about this place. It still looked gloomy and dead and it was probably still filled with crazy residents. Grimmjow made it to his destination, lifting his hand up and knocking on the mahogany wood door. He looked down at his shoes, worn and dirty.

He listened to the door creak open and he looked up to see pink hair and golden eyes. He frowned at the condensing smile. "Well hello, Grimmjow."

"Hey, Szayel." He watched the man lean against the doorframe, arms crossed over his shoulder. "Come on, man. I really don't want to deal with this right now." A thin pink eyebrow arched and Grimmjow sighed dramatically. Szayel moved out of the way and let Grimmjow in, closing the door behind him.

"What brings you to my lovely abode?"

"I came to talk and to see if you could help me with a couple of things," Grimmjow said as he dropped his duffle bag onto the floor and sat on the man's couch. He buried his face into his hands, trying to get his mind straight and figure out exactly why he was there. He knew it was going to take a lot in him to ask Szayel for a favor, but compared to his other friends, the pink haired man was the only reliable one.

"Continue."

"I need…" Grimmjow sighed again, trying to really say what was on his mind. "I need some money."

"…Some…money?" Szayel hummed for a moment before shrugging. "Sure." Grimmjow lifted his face up from his hands and looked over his shoulder towards his friend. He was astonished that Szayel didn't go into some monologue about annoying bullshit.

"Seriously? You'll…you'll give me some?" Szayel nodded and made his way out of the living room. Grimmjow watched him leave, surprised by how nice the pink haired man was being. Szayel had always been there for him, but he knew that he even got on the man's nerves sometimes. He tried not to, but he always seemed to get in trouble around him.

The man came back out holding large pouch that was zipped closed. "It's your money anyway." Grimmjow gazed at him with confusion before gazing down at the bag. Szayel threw it at him and he caught before settling it on his lap. "When they started confiscating your things, I took some stuff from your apartment. Your bankbook and stamp, some clothing and other stuff. I figured that if you were ever freed, you'd need them. I went and withdrew all your money from your bank account. Then I closed the account. I was surprised by how much money you had been saving. I took some out for the damages to my living room, but there was still quite a lot left." Szayel smiled down at Grimmjow shocked face. "You're welcome."

The blunet looked back at the heavy bag and unzipped it. Pulling the sides open, he looked at the stacks of banknotes. He pulled out a stack, realizing just how much it was. It wasn't enough to start a new life, but it was damn near close. Grimmjow hadn't realized he was saving so much money in the bank. He lived a simple life and didn't spend much money, only buying food, necessities and paying his rent. He didn't own a car or anything extravagant, so he guessed he was really saving all that he earned. He slipped the money back into the bag and set it on the coffee table. He wondered what else had been saved.

"Uh, Szayel-"

"All your belongings that I was able to get are in the guest room. You are welcome to use the shower if you need to." Grimmjow frowned and looked over his shoulder.

"Why…are you being so nice to me?"

"Did you forget what I told you that last time I saw you?" He gazed into golden eyes for a minute before shaking his head. "Well from the looks of it, you have taken my advice and whatever happened in jail seems to have made you a little more responsible. Besides…I'm only helping a friend who's in need."

Grimmjow watched Szayel's expression change into something he had never seen. Compassion? Sympathy? Grimmjow wasn't sure, but he knew that he probably wouldn't ever see it again. So he enjoyed it. He relished in the unique moment he was sharing with the only friend that had come to his aid. Szayel had been the only one there for him. From the beginning and now to the end, Szayel had done everything possible to help Grimmjow and he would never be able to deeply express how much that meant to him. He looked away and down towards his fingers. "…Thanks, man."

Szayel smiled, not really sure what was going on with the atmosphere. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was different. "It's what friends are for."

Grimmjow lifted his leg, lacing one of his all black combat boots. The hot shower had been just what he needed and he was almost ready to go. Szayel had been able to gather more than enough clothing from Grimmjow's apartment and the blunet was thankful. Setting his foot down, he stared at the large duffle bag. He had thrown the other one away, wanting nothing more to do with prison or its belongings. He was going to get as far away from Rukongai as possible. He couldn't leave the country, but that was fine. Japan was a large enough country and he would be able to find some place new to start his life.

He pushed himself up from the bed before bending over, grabbing his bomber jacket and throwing it on. The weather was cold, the norm for winter. He grabbed the bag of money, pulling a stack of notes out and slipping them into his jacket pocket before zipping it back up and tossing it into his open duffle bag.

He couldn't believe he was actually ready to leave his old life behind. He couldn't believe he was ready to leave Ichigo behind. The man he was in love with was still in this small town, he could feel it. He knew if something ever happened to Ichigo, he would know. It was as if they were linked together, tied together by the string of fate. He found himself snorting at such a silly thing. Look at him, talking about this lovey dovey crap. He sighed and reached for the duffle bag, zipping it up and throwing it over his shoulder. He made his way out of the bedroom and down the small hallway before heading into the living room. Szayel was sitting at his dinner table and he seemed fairly nervous.

He looked up when he heard Grimmjow's footsteps. Casually rising from the table, he let his eyes roam over his best friend. It was kind of sad knowing that this would probably be the last time he actually saw him. Szayel frowned before looking away, his arms crossed against his chest. There was an awkward silence before Grimmjow cleared his throat and made his way over to the door.

"I, uh, I guess this is goodbye, Szayel." The pink haired man just nodded, not wanting to look at Grimmjow. The blunet frowned and reached for the door, pulling it open and stepping threw the doorway. He glanced once more before he closed the door behind him with a soft click.

Szayel finally looked over, realizing that the man was finally gone. He rushed over, opening the door and gazed down the hallway.

"Don't forget to call me when you get to wherever you're going!" he shouted into the hallway. Grimmjow was already at the elevator, but he heard the man. He watched the doors slide open and he threw an okay over his shoulder before he stepped inside, the doors closing behind him.

Grimmjow made his way down the sidewalk, the snow falling softly onto the ground. He hadn't realized it would be this cold or that it would be snowing. He hoped that when he made it to the train station, they would still be running. He fixed the bag strap on his arm, not even feeling the weight of the bag. He was much stronger now, his time in prison giving him plenty of time to bulk up on muscle. His legs were toned, more than they were before; walking far distances not even stressing his muscles. It was useful, since he didn't want to waste his money on expensive cabs. He sounded cheap, but he wanted to keep himself on a budget, not using it on the unimportant things. He needed his money to last him for as long as possible.

He sighed as he walked down the white sidewalk. He had the urge to go see Ichigo. He wanted to just gaze into those chocolate brown eyes and apologize repeatedly. He wanted to fall to his knees and ask for forgiveness. Ichigo had already written that he had, but he wanted to hear that desirable voice say it. He wanted Ichigo to look him in the eye and tell him that he wasn't angry anymore, that he had forgiven him and had moved on with his life. He felt wrong just leaving things the way they were. Grimmjow felt there hadn't been any complete closure between them and he needed that reassurance.

He continued to walk, finally seeing the train station in the foggy distance. He wondered where he should go, really not caring as long as it was far away from Rukongai. He looked down at his watch, noticing that the time was a little after six. He hoped a train hadn't already left. Quickening his pace, he tried to hurry up and get over the small bridge that connected the opposite street above a small river. He looked over the wide stone railing, noticing the cold and almost frozen water. Grimmjow shivered, not wanting to be the person that fell in there.

He slowed his pace as he continued to walk, almost over the bridge when he noticed something a little ways in front of him. He couldn't completely make it out, but he could tell it was a figure sitting on the edge of the stone railing. Narrowing his aqua eyes, he hoped it would make it easier to see in the foggy atmosphere. He sighed and looked away. Why the hell was he worried about someone else? If that person was trying to kill themselves, then he would leave them to it. He couldn't give them any advice. He was practically in the same boat.

Grimmjow had tried a few times at getting away with ending his life, but it wasn't meant to happen for him. He had been saved or talked out of it, so he figured running away was better. He knew that was exactly what he was doing and he wouldn't deny it. He was trying to run away from his memories and he was running away from Ichigo. He knew he shouldn't. They had gotten him through his long prison sentence, but he just didn't want to deal with them any more. He wanted a fresh started at everything.

Grimmjow walked past the dark figure, noticing the small duffle bag on the stone ground. He could hear the soft sobs coming from the person and for some reason it made his heart clench. He hated hearing that sound. It reminded him of how badly he had hurt the person he cared about. He quickened his pace, wanting to get as far away as possible.

Once he made it to the opposite side of the bridge, he stopped. Glancing over his shoulder, blue orbs gazed at the figure. For some reason, he couldn't just leave whoever it was alone. The way the body shivered and the heart wrenching cries spilled from the lips had got to him. He was really getting mushy. He trudged back to the figure, stepping closer and dropping his bag onto the ground next to the other. He leaned over, putting his elbows on the rail and gazed out.

"Ya know, you shouldn't be out here, especially on that ledge. You could fall and then what?" Grimmjow listened to the sobs as they slowly became quiet.

"…W-who cares. It doesn't matter what happens to me, anyway. I have no reason for living." The blunet hummed and stared down at his gloved hands.

"I can relate, but killing yourself isn't goin' to solve anything."

"Why do you care? I-I don't even know you…" The figure turned towards him, but Grimmjow continued to stare out in front of him, gazing at the rippling cold water. He sighed and scratched against his wool cap.

"…You're right. I apologize for bothering you. I'll leave you be." Grimmjow glanced over to the figure before pulling up from the ledge and grabbing his bag. He had tried to help the guy, but he was never the helping type. He started making his way back to the train station, oblivious to the figure gazing at him.

"…" The blunet heard the sobbing again and it shattered something in him. "…Gr-Gri-Grimmjow?" The man froze, his back still turned to the figure. Was he hearing things? Maybe the wind was playing tricks on him. He feared turning around, not wanting to know who that familiar voice belonged to. Since he started talking to the figure, he had an eerie since of awareness, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Was it who he really thought or was he just going crazy?

Body shaking and hands clenched, he slowly turned around. He could hear the gravel crunching under the weight of his boots as he turned his full attention to the man behind him. Sapphire eyes locked with mahogany and they widened. He watched hands shoot up to Ichigo's face, hiding the boy's nose and mouth and he could hear the muffled sobbing. He watched tears roll down the boy's much matured looking face. He listened to the muffled crying and he just couldn't look away. He watched Ichigo slowly fall down to his knees, his jeaned legs sliding against the snow and spreading it out. He couldn't move, but he wanted to more than anything. He wanted to run to him and envelop him in the warmth of his arms and hold him tight, kidnap him from this world, never to be seen again by anyone else's eye.

His feet started to move, shakily and slowly towards the orange haired man. His blood was thumping loudly in his ears and his heart was trying to break free of his chest. Before he knew it, he was standing a few inches away from Ichigo. He dropped to his knees and leaned over, wrapping his arms around the boy, savoring the act of the body pushing closer to him. He tightened his hold and listened to the cries. He didn't want to let go, ever, but he knew if they stayed there, they both would freeze. Ichigo didn't seem to care though, he just continued to lean into the larger body above him.

Finally pulling away, Grimmjow stared down into those watery but beautiful brown eyes and reached his gloved hands up. He touched the freezing hands and pulled them from the boy's face. Holding them up, he rubbed them against his face. Grimmjow could feel the boy shivering, his hands cold as ice, but he didn't care. He needed to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He needed to make sure this wasn't a figment of his imagination.

"I-I hate you so much." Grimmjow shuddered and closed his eyes. He knew. "I hate you for what you did to me." Grimmjow knew. Ichigo sobbed some more. "I hate you for making me feel this way." Blue eyes were slowly revealed and they gazed down at Ichigo. The boy's freezing hands pulled away from the blunet's grasp and he slid them across the angular and strong face. He stared at the man, not caring how there was tearstains across his face or that his nose was dripping of fluids. He nibbled on his bottom lip, his brown eyes looking back and forth, trying to take in every part of Grimmjow's face. It looked so much different. The eyes looked so much more stronger and the man looked older and somewhat wiser. The smidgen of blue stubble was new, but Ichigo enjoyed it just the same. "I hate you for leaving me alone. For saying such words to me. I hate you for everything."

Ichigo leaned over and pressed his cold, freezing lips against Grimmjow's warm ones and the bigger man sighed. He never thought this would happen in a million years. The feel of Ichigo again was enough to make him burst with joy. He raised his hands and placed them on top of Ichigo's before leaning in, molding his lips to the others. He ran his tongue along the oranget's bottom lip and Ichigo slowly opened his mouth. He needed to feel Grimmjow inside him, regardless of how.

Grimmjow enjoyed the warmness, trying to push away the memories of how cruel he was to Ichigo. He really didn't deserve another chance. He didn't deserve Ichigo after what he had done and his heart ached at the revelation. He had did his time for his crimes, but that did nothing for Ichigo's state of mind. It didn't take away the pain or the trauma and memories that he was sure Ichigo had. He pulled away, realizing he couldn't do this to him. Even though he needed Ichigo in his life, he didn't think the boy felt the same. He slowly pulled farther away, slowly dropping his hands from the smaller ones. He couldn't do this to Ichigo again. He couldn't hurt the boy anymore.

"I-I'm sorry, Ichigo. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for what I did, for making you feel the way you did. I could say it a million times, but it still wouldn't be enough." Ichigo looked up with frantic eyes. He rose into a standing position leaving Ichigo down in the snow. "I'm sorry…" Grimmjow could feel his own tears start to fall and he cursed himself for being so emotional. "I'm sorry for loving you, for not showing it in the right way." He backed up and turned his back on Ichigo. He couldn't put Ichigo through that again. "And I'm sorry for leaving you again."

He slowly started to walk away, not even wanting to know what Ichigo's expression was. He could feel the heartbreak spilling from the boy, but this was the right thing to do. He needed to distance himself from everything that had gone wrong in his life. He needed to distance himself for the one thing that was still pure before he completely corrupted it. Ichigo still had a chance. He wasn't too far-gone yet and Grimmjow wanted to keep it that way.

Ichigo sat there in the snow and watched Grimmjow slowly walk away. He didn't understand what had happened. He had waited seven years for this moment. He had finally seen Grimmjow and what happens? He's left there without anything to show for it. He could feel the tears rolling down his face as he watched Grimmjow disappear.

He couldn't go back. He couldn't go back to Tsukishima, knowing how he really felt about the man. He had stuck it out the whole seven years, but he just couldn't do that the dark haired man anymore. He couldn't hog up his life anymore and he finally decided to leave. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he had just packed all this belongings and left. He gazed down at the white snow, his hands buried in it. He crunched the freezing whiteness in his hands, trying to figure out what to do.

He slowly rose up from the snow, ignoring how wet his jeans were. Grabbing his bag, he quickly made his way to the train station. He refused to let this end like this. His teary mahogany eyes were determined as he climbed the stairs up towards the platform. He glanced around until he spotted Grimmjow's large frame. He marched over and reached out, grabbing the man by the sleeve of his bomber jacket, swiftly yanking it and turning the man around. Ichigo glared up into astonished aquamarine eyes.

"You think I'm just going to let you leave me again," Ichigo snarled. He was angry that the man could do such a thing to him. "After everything you put me through you think I'm just going to take that shit sitting down!" His cold fingers gripped the sleeve tightly, never looking away from the piercing blue gaze. "I refuse to let you just do what you want to me and then leave me again. I waited! I waited seven years for this moment and I am not going to let you get away from me again!"

Grimmjow was shocked, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open. He wasn't sure what to say. "You captured my heart, so it's only right for me to capture you in return," Ichigo mumbled, looking away from the light eyes. "It's just going to be you and me. Isn't that what you said to me before? Or were you just spouting nonsense?" He looked back up, waiting for an answer.

Grimmjow swallowed the lump in his throat, surprised that Ichigo could remember something he had said such a long time ago. "Ichigo…"

"Take me with you. Where ever you go, I want to go too." The blunet didn't know how to refuse such a request. He wanted Ichigo by his side, but he didn't want to hurt him again.

"Ar-are you sure about this? I can't guarantee your safety." Grimmjow knew he still had a lot of issues to work out and he knew that he was still a violent man. Though he had been able to channel it in prison, Ichigo was a whole other ballpark. He was a jealous person and he knew if Ichigo slipped up, he might attack on impulse.

Ichigo just nodded, not caring about anything other than being with Grimmjow. The blunet sighed and reached out his hand. Ichigo looked down at it. Did he really want to do this? He would be leaving everything behind, his friends, his family, probably never to be seen again. But he would have Grimmjow. He looked back up, seeing the hope in the man's sapphire eyes.

He slowly reached his hand out and slid it into Grimmjow's. He would follow this man anywhere, even into the depths of hell, if he could stay by his side.

I hope everyone enjoyed this. Next chapter will be the very last and the end of this story. (I'm so sad to see it ending. D:)

P.S. Grimmjow was 25 at the beginning of the story, now he is 32. Ichigo was 19, now he is 26.