Adrenalin still pumping through him, Ichigo ran the rest of the way to his father's clinic. Bursting in through the front door cradling the his bleeding boyfriend immediately caught Isshin's attention.

"Help him!" Ichigo gasped as he shoved the boy into his father's arms. Quickly getting over his shock Isshin rushed Toushirou into the treatment room while Ichigo watched him go.

It was only after they had disappeared from his sight that the Strawberry realized just how much his ankle hurt, looking down he found that his ankle was swelling and likely sprained. Limping over to a chair in the waiting room he sat down and began to truly understand the horror of having to wait in the wait room.

With a sight Ichigo pulled out his phone and punched in Renji's number.

'Ichigo! Thank god you called, I was getting ready to call the police!'

"Yeah, thanks for do that for me man"

'No problem, but is everything okay?"

"I don't know yet, I'll fill you in later, alright."

'Fine...'

"Thanks again Renji, gotta go, bye."

'bye'

Ichigo let out a breath as he hung up on Renji, leaning his head back against the head rest, waiting, waiting, waiting. Finally after about thirty minutes Isshin came returned and sat down next to his son.

"Well, he's badly dehydrated, has a sprained wrist, cuts and bruised all over him, a slight concision, and a small fever but he should be fine."

Ichigo let out a sigh of relief at his father's words.

"Son, I need to know what happened, and don't tell me a bunch of kids beat him up because I know that's not what happened."

For a few seconds Ichigo just stared at the floor then he sighed again.

"Toushirou's mom died when he was six, she was hit by a car saving his life, but his dad blames him for his moms death, the man's an alcoholic, he gets drunk and then beats Toushirou."

Isshin looked sick as he listened to his son's quite explanation.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Toushirou told me not to, said he didn't want to force his grandmother to take care of him and I didn't want to betray his trust."

Isshin closed his eyes, he could understand his son's reasoning if it wasn't how the situation should have been handled. Trust was an important thing, but not at the cost of someones well being.

"I have to call the police Ichigo, while I do that why don't you go and sit with Toushirou, he's in room ten."

Ichigo nodded and limped off, when he reached Toushirou's room he found that he could only stand in the door for a few seconds. Toushirou was pitiful sight, the boy was pale and covered in bandages. Slowly the strawberry limped painfully over and pulled up a chair next to his boyfriends bed.

He could only hope that Toushirou would understand. Taking the boy's hand Ichigo couldn't help but to marvel at how small his hands were, so small, so delicate.

"I'm sorry, Toushirou."

"For what?"

Ichigo gave a start of surprise and looked down to see a pair of tired blue-green eyes gazing up at him. Sighing softly Ichigo stretched out his other hand and gently stroked Toushirou's cheek.

"My dad's calling the police."

Toushriou blinked "I-I see." he whispered.

"Please understand, I had to tell him, its not right for your dad to hurt you like this!"

The small boy nodded and then suddenly sat up and buried his face into Ichigo's shoulder. Ichigo held him close and they waited for the verdict to fall on Toushirou's fate.

Isshin met the police officers and an elderly woman who he asumed was Toushirou's grandmother at the clinic door. The old woman held her head up high and approached him first.

"I am Hitsugaya Aiko, Toushirou's grandmother, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Isshin nodded and bowed politely to the old woman.

"Kurosaika Isshin, thank you for coming."

"May I see my grandson?"

Glancing up at the two cops who signaled that would be fine, Isshin gave another nod.

"Right this way."

He lead them to Toushirou's room and found that Toushirou and Ichigo had fallen asleep. Ichigo had his arms wrapped protectively around the smaller boy and they both looked quite content.

"Um..." Isshin tried to begin, he wasn't certain what to do or say, he hadn't expected Toushirou's grandmother to find out about Ichigo's and Toushirou's relationship this way. But the old woman just smiled.

"Why don't we take this conversation else were gentlemen, there's no need to wake them." And with that she left the room, clearly expecting the others to follow her.

Yoruichi's note:

Yoruichi(cat form): The story is progressing quite nicely isn't Zx14ninja

Zx14ninja: (in a congested sounding voice) I suppose

Yoruichi: Are you sick? You sound terrible

Zx14ninja: No

Yoruichi: Than what is it?

Zx14ninja: CAT HAIR! (falls over gasping)

Yoruichi: Whoops...would you rather I be naked?

Zx14ninja: Never mind, I feel great!

Yoruichi: (Smiling evil) That's what I thought.