Yays, True Blood is back on! I need something to watch for the summer, as well as plenty of new movies in the coming weeks!

Warrior by Boogermeister

Chapter 28-Libertus, Fugitivus

"... Grimmjow...?" Ichigo muttered quietly, his slim fingers running across the rigged outline of the older man's scar as they laid together in the teen's bed. Grimmjow, who was blinking tiredly as he was staring out of the window, turned his attention to him, seeing his orange hair glowing softly from the moonlight. "I... um, I've been wondering something, since that time when you fought in the audience of the emperor..."

"Really, what...?" muttered Grimmjow.

"No... I meant just before the fight," Ichigo said quietly, snuggling against the warm hard chest. "When Urahara and the other lanista were watching you train, they were talking about getting your freedom from the emperor and you can go back home."

"Oh..." Grimmjow shifted his body a little before his hand settled by his master's waist. "I already made my choice about that, Ichigo," he said. "I stayed here for you, now that we're together. Besides, that emperor mentioned about me being in the arena for a couple more years before another chance to gain my freedom, that's enough time to get Diroy and help him heal."

"That's a good reason to hear," nodded Ichigo. "But then what...? What if you are given a chance for freedom once again...? It's not that I'm being selfish about it-"

"I get it, kid, you're not the only one who had thought of it," he smirked lightly before frowning. "It's just that, well, I need to get Diroy home. He doesn't belong here. Even if you and your family are willing to help him, you got to realize that he might be traumatized from being transferred back and forth during the slave trade. He needs to be in his homelands, Ichigo..."

"And... by doing that, you have to go with him, right?" the teen questioned. Grimmjow didn't answer, instead he nuzzled into his soft hair as he hugged him closer.

"I don't want to leave you, Ichigo, I'll tell you that," he muttered quietly. "But I'm a Gaul. Despite being a fearsome warrior, I care a lot about my surviving friend, and ensure his safety, I must protect him. He cannot go alone."

"... I understand that, Grimm..." Ichigo mumbled, glancing up to him. "I'm not selfish, like I said. But still..."

"I know..." frowned Grimmjow, kissing softly at his forehead. "Sorry about that, kid. But it might be the only way..."

"... Wish I can go with you," he smiled a little at him, and the Gaul blinked in surprise at his comment. "I would like to see how you home look like, if it's really different from Rome."

"It kinda is, just a cluster of huts surrounded by trees..." Grimmjow smirked at him. "But just enough hunting grounds to get plenty of food. And the weather's very different from here. Bitterly cold with so much snow during winter, but summer's much nicer, not so many hot days like the ones here. With the occasional rain..."

"Hmm, sounds nice..." muttered Ichigo, by now he was blinking tiredly as he let out a soft yawn. "What else, Grimm...?"

"Well... my mother's pretty famous for her rabbit stew," he continued. "It was the only way I can eat my stupid vegetables... but it was worth it whenever I would hunt the game for her. Also, there's a giant oak tree about half a day's north of the village, where our priests used it for prayers and rituals to protect our people... It was one of the few things I don't fuck around with, something about being cursed should I disrespect them. One of my friends- Yylfrordt, he has a younger brother who's training to become one. He actually hates my guts because I would pull pranks on him when we were little kids."

"Uh-huhh..." Ichigo mumbled sleepily.

"Maybe someday, I can apologize to him... not just for the pranks but for not protecting Yylfordt, as well as to my other friends' families," Grimmjow muttered with a sad frown. "I was meant to be the next leader of the village, I have responsibility to protect my people. And to lose the ones I knew since I was a child, I wonder if I can manage to do such a thing, when I couldn't help them then... I also wonder if the villagers even care of how I'm doing right now, if they would welcome me back with opened arms despite of the tragedy..."

"..."

"... Ichigo...?" Grimmjow looked down to see the teen sleeping calmly in his arms, breathing evenly as the Gaul let out a soft sigh. "Well, I expected that..." he sighed as he carefully removed his arms and sat up. "Sorry, Ichigo, but even if we're together for another two or three years, I might have to leave you..." he frowned, touching the silky strands. "If only I can take you with me, simple as that..."

Grimmjow flinched a little in his uncomfortable sleep when he suddenly heard a loud noise, fluttering his eyes open as he groaned with aches from his body. He wished he could lie down without the need of chains but that was the least of his concern, as he became more awake at the new sounds of guards clamoring in surprise in the distant. What was going on...? He frowned in confusion as he sat up, feeling alert and waited to see what was happening.

Before long, he saw a few guards barging for his cell and instant dread fell on him. He couldn't be leaving Rome now, not when he didn't get a chance to see Ichigo one last time...! But as soon as he saw the guards, dread immediately replaced by absolute surprise then elation by what he saw who was behind them. "Ichigo...!" he gasped sharply as he stood up, the moment he saw his master running up to the iron bars.

"Grimmjow...!" grinned Ichigo, before he moved aside for the cell door to open. He wanted to run up and tackled him with fierce kisses if it weren't for the fact the guards as well as Aizen were present. Instead, he held back his excitement and let the senator stepped in, knowing that he wanted to speak to Grimmjow first.

"Grimmjow..." Aizen stated calmly, standing in front of him with a neutral expression, and Grimmjow frowned a little.

"Senator..." he greeted with a short nod.

"There is something I must speak to you about, but I believe you know of what I'm leading to, right?" he questioned, and almost immediately the Gaul's eyes narrowed at that.

"About Ginjou..." nodded Grimmjow.

"Correct," confirmed Aizen. "When he came to me yesterday-"

"Please, wait one moment," he interrupted, ignoring the indignant reactions from the guards since he was still a slave. "Now that you're here, I need to warn you about something... A couple of nights before, Ginjou came to me with a threat, about you and some other senators."

"A... threat, you say?" the senator inquired with a frown. Ichigo, who was waiting outside the cell, frowned in confusion. Ginjou couldn't have been here, he shouldn't be able to come here at all with this place guarded by other soldiers not employed by him.

"Yes, he said that you will be killed by him soon, within a few days," he replied. "I wanted to warn you about it sooner but I wasn't allowed to-"

"Wasn't allowed to...?" frowned Aizen before turning to one of the guards. "Did he tell one of the guards to warn me about a possible threat against me...?" he questioned.

"Uh, well... I heard of something vague similar to that but everybody assumed he was lying," the guard answered nervously.

"... False or not, you should have taken it seriously," Aizen said, a subtle hint of anger was evident in his voice. "Should the threat by the praetor happen to be real and I end up dead, whose fault is that? The slave or the soldier?"

"Ah, we're so sorry, Senator...!" they apologized with their heads bowing down deeply. But Aizen waved it off dismissively, as he turned back to Grimmjow.

"Unfortunately, the threat did happen yesterday morning... proven by one of my slaves," he said, much to the Gaul's surprise as his eyes widened at that statement. "The praetor, hoping to reconcile our broken family ties, had bought me a gift in a form of wine. I was already suspicious the instant he came to me and knew it was spiked. It was unfortunate that my slave purposely consumed some of it to protect me."

"So it is true, then..." frowned Grimmjow, as Ichigo gasped in disbelief. That explained why he wasn't able to visit the man then. Ginjou was stooping so low to kill his own blood, all because of Grimmjow? "So now what, I'm not safe in this cell anymore now that Ginjou keeps coming after me...?" he asked.

"He wouldn't risk doing it again now I am very much alive as well as aware of his plan," replied the senator. "But this is a very serious offense, no doubt that he will do this again."

"If that's the case, then you must warn the other senators who are protecting me as well," he said. "They're in danger also, Ginjou said he will take out those in order to get to me..."

"What...?"

"That's what he said, that he might do it within a few days," frowned Grimmjow.

"He must mean Senator Ukitake and Senator Kyouraku...!" Ichigo realized, catching the other two men's attention.

"Of course, it makes perfect sense..." nodded Aizen, yet his face was wretched with worry before leaving the cell. "I'll go and alert them, Ichigo. I suppose you can use the time to talk to your man, now that you completely have permission to be here..."

"Y-yes, thank you so much, Aizen..." nodded Ichigo. Aizen nodded back, before leaving with two guards in tow. Only one remained on duty, though he seemed bored to be here. "... Uh, do you mind giving us some privacy, to discuss between slave and master?" The guard simply shrugged and walked around the corner, giving the two almost complete privacy as Ichigo turned his sight back on Grimmjow.

"... Ichigo-" Grimmjow sighed in relief, but didn't have a chance to react, when the teen launched at him into a bone-crushing hug. "Ah! Ichigo...!" gasped the Gaul.

"... I've missed you so much, Grimmjow..." Ichigo muttered, his voice muffled but Grimmjow could feel wet tears against his bare chest.

"Foolish kid... It had already been a couple of days," Grimmjow smirked sadly, his strong arms wrapped around his master.

"And those days had been nothing but torture without you beside me..." Ichigo whispered with a deep sniff.

"Heh..." With no guard to witness their tender moment, Grimmjow carefully sat down on the shredded nest with Ichigo on his lap. "I taught you to be strong with the sword and with hunting, I don't want you crying for me as if I'm already dead..." he muttered. When Ichigo glanced up at him with glistening brown eyes, Grimmjow simply wiped away a few tears that had trickled down the cheeks.

"That's what I'm afraid of, Grimmjow," he snifled. "Ginjou's becoming more and more insane... He had already executed his slaves, using your erratic behavior as an excuse to kill them. He's trying to influence the public that you are that dangerous."

"Tch, that probably happened soon after seeing me," frowned Grimmjow. "He already told me that he killed the boy who looked like my friend. Maybe he's trying to win that way."

"But let's hope not... at least not until your real friend comes here," Ichigo muttered.

"I might be gone from here by now-"

"No, Grimmjow... your friend's coming here in a matter of days," he said with a small smile. "By the end of this week or the next, you will see him."

"Wait a minute... are you sure, Ichigo?" Grimmjow gasped softly as he looked at him. Snifling, Ichigo nodded, feeling the older man's arms tightened around him.

"There's no doubt about it, coming from Renji," he grinned.

"Oh, Ichigo..." Grimmjow moved to claim his master's lips, and Ichigo wasted no time to kiss back, feeling the familiar warm sensation of the rough tongue against his own. "Shit, it felt like forever... even if it was just a few days," he rumbled, his sharp teeth scraped deftly against the smooth but tear-stained cheeks as he kissed against them.

"Mmh...!" Ichigo shuddered with unneeded lustful warmth when he felt one of Grimmjow's hands roaming down to his waist. "Grimm, wait..." he mumbled softly.

"I know my limits, just that my body thinks otherwise..." Grimmjow growled, as his arousal was gradually getting hard. Ichigo felt it too underneath his leg, but the Gaul was trying to hold back his own needs as he went back to take those lips again. "I really want it but there's too many eyes in this place. I don't want to risk it for you, kid..."

"I know..." nodded Ichigo. "But still... I truly want you, Grimmjow, it's been so long." Grimmjow snarled softly at the dangerous teasing, feeling himself being constrained by his tight loincloth before Ichigo kissed him.

"It's way too hard for us to fuck with these soldiers lurking around," growled Grimmjow.

"I know that... there are other ways to do it," Ichigo smiled at him. Before Grimmjow could question it, he shuddered when the teen's hand suddenly palmed at his crotch. His eyes seemed to glow with intense at him, yet didn't bother to stop his actions as Ichigo slowly tugged and loosened the wool cloth around the waist. Instead, he shifted his body to help him, until his erected manhood finally sprung free.

"Fuck, kid..." rumbled Grimmjow, before he leaned for a passionate kiss. He bit back a hiss once the slim fingers wrapped around him. He felt like he was about to explode but calmed down enough as Ichigo slowly moved his hand up and down. "Fucking shit..." he groaned.

"It's okay, Grimm..." sighed Ichigo, sliding off his lap as he continued. "I wish it didn't have to be this way..." He rubbed his thumb over the slit and Grimmjow nearly flinched at the sensitive sensation.

"Ichigo..." he growled, feeling the muscles in his inner thighs stiffened at every stroke. Ichigo kissed at his lips one more time, before mimicking Grimmjow's actions and planted kisses against the older man's neck and scarred chest. "Wait... Ichigo, what are you doing?" panted Grimmjow, when he realized that Ichigo was getting closer and closer to his nether regions.

"Well, I've always been curious of doing such a thing..." Ichigo grinned a little at him.

"But right now, right here...? We could've experimented this back in the woods," he muttered.

"But this might be faster than just stroking you off..." replied Ichigo. Grimmjow nearly huffed, the handjob was barely working and that much was true. His needs was getting the best of him and the thought of his master's tongue trailing around his hardened flesh was making his mind more excited. "Is that all right with you, Grimm...?"

"... Yeah, but you have to clean about it," nodded Grimmjow.

"Clean...?"

"Meaning, you have to drink and swallow my... you know..." Grimmjow explained. But Ichigo seemed to understand that, by now he was inches away from the leaking tip and he made a slight frown. Aside from the thought of doing that, it was obvious that Grimmjow hadn't been allowed to bathe so the scent on him was very strong. Yet he was still curious, as he gave him an assuring smile.

"Okay..." he sighed deeply before turning back to the throbbing organ. "Here goes..." Without another moment of hesitation, he stuck his tongue out and slowly ran it across the slit. Both of them felt a shiver of delight, but Grimmjow immediately grasped at his bright orange tresses as he growled under his breath. But Ichigo's taste buds tingled from the Gaul's juices; it was salty but bitter, but it was so interesting and good.

"Ichigo... shit..." groaned Grimmjow, biting his bottom lip as he leaned his head back. It felt like he had a dry lump in his throat since it had been a long time he had received this type of pleasure. But it was obvious that the teen was such a novice, as he licked around the top. "Come on, kid... you got to do more than that..." he rumbled.

"Mm..." Ichigo whimpered softly and nodded, taking a deep breath before he opened his mouth. "Hhmm..." He knew that his lover was big, he felt it so many times, but the length of it seemed to be difficult to handle as he exhaled through his nose. Against his tongue, he could feel that the flesh was very hard, with veins throbbing once in a while. Even the taste of it was sharp, but he quickly got used to it as he pulled away then went back down.

"Ahh... fuck, kid..." panted Grimmjow. "Come on, come one..." His cyan eyes looked down at him, with his master situated between his legs, and he couldn't help but smirk at the sight. Ichigo couldn't take all of him but he was trying his best with his actions, before his hooded amber-brown eyes glanced back at him. With a look like that, he wanted to make love to him right now. His stomach muscles kept tightening up from the feeling of the warm wet sensation, it won't be long until he reaches orgasm as his fingers curled around Ichigo's hair strands.

"Mmmh...!" Ichigo whimpered. Grimmjow was near to yanking his hair out but he ignored it as he felt the bitterly substance filling up his mouth. But as soon as he swallowed, the older man flinched and let out a shaky husky groan.

"Fuck it, I'm getting close...!" he groaned. "Don't stop, Ichigo, keep going..." Ichigo whimpered, he could feel that Grimmjow wanted to buck his hips forward by how his muscles kept tensing up. He could only take so much, now that his jaw muscles was hurting and he was close to choking.

"Fuck... fuck, fucking shit...!" Grimmjow gasped sharply, suddenly holding Ichigo's head down.

"Mmh! Mm-mhh...!" Ichigo nearly choked, but Grimmjow's grip was like iron as he let out a deep rumbling growl. It was the only warning before the teen felt a very warm creamy substance gushing into his mouth. The intense bitterness assaulted his taste buds and the immediate urge to spit it out was there. But he remembered Grimmjow advice of doing it clean and very reluctantly, he swallowed it down.

"Fucking gods..." Grimmjow panted deeply, loosening his grip on his master as he sat back. Coughing a little, Ichigo pulled his mouth away from the now lax member and sat up, his eyes watered a little from the ordeal as he wiped his lips.

"How can anybody do that...?" he sighed deeply.

"Tch, it usually takes a while to get used to it," breathed Grimmjow. "Sometimes, the village girls didn't mind me doing that when we would-"

"Grimm... I'm not some village girl," Ichigo frowned at him, but he smiled a little as he settled onto his lap. "I am your lover, and nothing more. The one who will stand by your side no matter what. Simple as that." Grimmjow tiredly smirked back, though it was a hint of sadness behind it, as he wrapped his arms around him.

"That's the problem, kid... between Ginjou and the possibility of me being sent away, we're on borrowed time," he muttered. "We cannot be together for long..."

"... If I could go with you, I would in a heartbeat," came Ichigo's quiet reply, snuggling into the crook of his neck. That made Grimmjow's heart jumped in surprise. The teen wanted to go to his homelands with him, but he wasn't sure whether to be happy for that comment or feel a little bad for him.

"I know... but you have a family who needs you right now, kid," he sighed. "You can't leave them just like that."

"With Ginjou, I might have to anyway," Ichigo frowned sadly. "I have a distant cousin in another city who can take me in, since he's a fairly powerful man."

"I see... Ginjou can't touch you if you're with your cousin."

"Who's to say, now that he's nothing but a mad man?" mumbled Ichigo. "There's still a good chance that he could come right after me regardless of protection. He might even try to harm my family, but..."

"Yeah, I get it..." nodded Grimmjow.

"I don't know what to do about this, Grimmjow," he said quietly with sadness coming from his voice. "I'm afraid... I'm not sure who to turn to, it's like I'm alone in this if you're gone. If I could... confess to my father about our affair, maybe we could find a way to keep you here. For a longer while, at least."

"... I'm sorry, kid, but I don't want you to do that," muttered the Gaul.

"Huh?" Ichigo glanced up at him in slight confusion. "Why not? At first, I was afraid of doing such a thing towards my father. But with a situation like this, I just assumed we don't have a choice right now-"

"Ichigo, we cannot do that," he shook his head. "By doing that, there's a good chance that your father will ban you from seeing me ever again. With me being shackled up for my actions, that would make it far worse. I don't want you being disowned by your family because of me." Despite of their recent pleasure, Ichigo could feel warm tears suddenly pricking at his eyes. But Grimmjow held him as he began to shake, before Ichigo snifled and buried his face into his chest.

"But without you here..." he muttered tearfully.

"There are other people to protect you-"

"It's still not enough, Grimmjow...!" he whimpered. "It has to be you and only you to protect me from Ginjou! Without you here, I... I will be killed by him...!"

"That won't happen, I won't let it..." Grimmjow frowned.

"You won't be here for long, Grimmjow! The moment you're gone, he will make his move...!" Tear-filled eyes gazed at him as Ichigo grasped as his shoulders. "I won't be safe anywhere...! He will torture and kill me unless...!" Ichigo looked away, and Grimmjow frowned in confusion.

"Unless what...?" he frowned. Ichigo didn't answer, saved for the soft snifling. "Unless what, Ichigo? Tell me now..." he pressed, gripping at his chin to look at him. The teen's expression was nothing but dispair and defeat before Ichigo let out a choked sob.

"... Unless I am forced to take my own life, Grimmjow..." he sobbed quietly. Once the words fell out of his mouth, Grimmjow felt as if his life jumped out of him as he let out a shaky exhale.

"Oh, fuck... Ichigo, I..." he shook his head in total disbelief. Ichigo was that desperate to do that to himself, because of all the trauma Ginjou had done to him...? "Fuck, Ichigo..." he frowned so sadly, wrapping his strong arms around him and grasped at his silky hair as he kissed at his forehead.

"I-I'm so sorry, Grimm..." he whimpered softly, but the Gaul quickly kissed at his wet eyelids before taking his quivering lips.

"It's never your fault... you are being cornered because of that fucking bastard," he rumbled. "You can't do that..."

"What if I have no choice- that he will do anything in order to destroy my life-"

"Ichigo, you mustn't do it..." he frowned, kissing at his lips again. "What good would it do for your family, for me, if you forfeit your own life? I won't let you do it, Ichigo, you have to live."

"But he will kill me-" whimpered Ichigo.

"No, you have to live..." he scoffed, hugging him tighter. "Do whatever it takes to keep on living, under the protection of your family or Aizen or just anybody. Until... until I can find a way to come back to you."

"Wh-what...? What do you mean, come back...?" Ichigo hiccuped in surprise, tears still trickling down his cheeks. Grimmjow blinked in realization of his words, but smirked a little as he kissed him.

"Even if they take me away, I'll return to you. Yeah, I'll take that challenge and do it," he smirked. Ichigo sniffed but made a soft noise close to laughter, feeling a calloused thumb wiping away the warm drops as he smiled a bit. "I won't be defeated by Ginjou or anyone else, Ichigo. I want you to be alive for me, okay...?" Snifling a couple of times, Ichigo smiled again and nodded, kissing him back with tongues clashing and teeth nipping at each other.

"I love you so much, Grimm..." he panted softly.

"Me too, I fucking love you, kid..." smirked Grimmjow. "I will try my best to protect you, Ichigo, even when I'm in chains..." A few more tears came down, but Ichigo's heart swelled with happiness as they continued to kiss, his hands trailed at the disfigurement on the older man's chest. "Ichigo..." he muttered.

"Hm...?"

"Just... promise me this one thing, though..." he murmured quietly, his usually intense cyan eyes softened as he stared at him. "If anything happens to you, if Ginjou tries to get to you... take him out..."

"What...?" Ichigo blinked in surprise.

"You heard me..." he whispered carefully, close to his ear. "My hunting daggers are still underneath my bed back in the villa... Take them and conceal them in your clothing. That way, you'll protect yourself from him and should he lay his hands on you..."

"But... how am I capable to do it?" he frowned, shivering at the thought of being close to that malicious man. Grimmjow assured him with a kiss on his honey-flavored lips.

"You've done it before when he tried to corner you a few weeks ago, so this time... aim for his heart," he muttered, his husky tone barely audible. "That is, if that fucking monster even has a heart..." Ichigo shuddered in his arms. Apprehension filled up his mind as he felt more tears trickling out of his closed eyes, snuggling against the strong chest. Grimmjow was right, he was stronger and more determined thanks to the older man but the years of grief caused by Ginjou had etched him deeply, something that cannot be erased so easily.

"I'm so afraid of him, Grimmjow..." he mumbled against the Gaul's chest.

"I know... but I'm much more afraid of you breathing your last breath with your neck constricted by Ginjou's hands," sighed Grimmjow. "That's why you must do it, Ichigo... but only as a last resort. Not contemplating suicide. Do you understand that?"

"... Yes, I get it," snifled the teen, his eyes hot and sore from the constant tears. He wanted to stay like this forever, being in his lover's strong and warm embrace as if to protect himself from the conflicts of the outside world. Maybe if there was a way for Grimmjow to stay, he would find it. He would do it, even if the risk of them being found out might tear them apart.

(Blood and Sand)

Staring at the already opened pitcher of wine on the table, Aizen sighed in disbelief as he pitched the bridge of his nose. Of course, knowing Kyouraku, he would sample it, no matter how suspicious it came to be. Like him, the pitcher was delivered to the usually laid-back senator, but not by Ginjou himself since it was only discovered at the front door of his home just a short time ago. However... he caught him in his office in time and now it led up to this, with both politicians standing before the so-called gift.

"... You only had one cup of it, you say?" inquired Aizen.

"Hmm, not really, I only took about two or three sips but it was far too bitter to my taste," shrugged the other man. "Thought the wine had gone bad or something but... are you sure it came from the praetor, Aizen?"

"He sent one to me personally and it resulted in one of my slaves being poisoned with high fever," Aizen frowned. "I'm not sure whether he'll live or die, but it's proof enough that he's trying to get rid of us by any means."

"And he's doing this because..."

"That gladiator- former gladiator. to be exact- who was snarling the praetor's name in the arena not too long ago," he nodded in the mention of Grimmjow. "As a matter of fact, Kuugo believed Grimmjow had been purposely giving him grief ever since the Gaul's enslavement and in turn, had been trying to find ways to dispose of him regardless of his heritage."

"Goodness, one would think of the consequences of trying to kill that man," Kyouraku sighed, shaking his head.

"Kuugo could care less about the result of a possible war, as long as he gets Grimmjow's head," he scoffed softly. "And to do that, he attempted to kill the ones who put him in protected custody. Meaning not just me, but you and Senator Ukitake as well."

"Juushiro...? He's much too ill to partake wine, that much I know," he frowned a little. "His wife maybe, but she rarely drinks. But if he doesn't know that, then it's all the more suspicious."

"Yes, that is true... We should contact him immediately, before it happens," nodded Aizen. "You, on the other hand, should take it easy and rest. If the wine really is poisoned then you should lie down."

"Really? Great, it gives me the reason to be catered by my lovely Nanao...!" Kyouraku grinned lightly.

"Truly, I am amazed that you can take this very serious matter as if this is a joke," Aizen frowned at him.

"I am being serious, it's just that these events are going to get more complicated from now on, all thanks to the praetor," smiled Kyouraku, but his narrowed eyes said otherwise.

"I know that... send words to Ukitake, we must speak to him..."

Moments later, a messenger were sent out and left the senator's home but as that person left, a pair of hazel eyes had been watching from a safe distant. Tsukishima had been waiting for someone to pick up the wine he had left after knocking on the door. He was about to leave to relay the news to his beloved master after seeing the gift taken inside, when he soon saw Aizen rushing up to the other senator's residence with a couple of soldiers in tow. Something wasn't right, he realized in dreadful surprise.

Both he and Ginjou had assumed that Aizen had consumed the wine yesterday. He thought that despite of the enstrangement between one another, Aizen would be willing to accept the gift and then be bed-ridden for the next several days. Unless... the estrangement was more than enough for the senator to be suspicious of his master. "Oh no... I must tell my master..." he frowned, turning on his heel and rushed back home. There was a good chance that Ginjou might be angry about it, but might direct his anger towards him in the process.

(Blood and Sand)

Shuffling some spare parchments, Ichigo took them into a satchel as he wandered around in his room. Considering Grimmjow's brazen plan to return back to Rome, he might as well pour in as much lessons as he can since the Gaul needed to learn how to read signs in order to return. Dusting his hands at his waist, he absentmindedly patted at the tethered daggers hidden underneath his tunic. Only two days had been passed since he had been able to see Grimmjow and it was still surreal of what's to come. So far, he hadn't heard from Aizen about the attempted assassination on him from Ginjou, and he hadn't heard of the disgraced praetor either aside from the public gossips.

It was the matter of politics but Ichigo couldn't help but feel worried about it considering that it involved Grimmjow. Ginjou was trying to kill those who were protecting Grimmjow from being sentenced to death. He wished he could help them but that is out of his elements. For now, he would just have to spend his remaining time with the older man, as he heard a soft knock on the door. "Yeah...?" he called out, before the door opened.

"Ichigo..." The teen turned to notice Nel, the woman's expression was full of concern, as usual, as she stepped in. "Um... Breakfast's downstairs and your family's waiting for you," she said quietly.

"Oh, right," Ichigo nodded, picking up the satchel. "Thanks..." He left his bedroom and went downstairs, with Nel following after him. She had been quiet about his visitation, seeing multiple emotions on his face when he came home that evening. Everything from happy to fatigue to remorseful, but Ichigo didn't speak much of the discussion between him and Grimmjow that day. And whatever it was, it couldn't be her business. A table and chairs were already set up by the garden, and Ichigo already saw his father and sisters eating their meal.

Isshin glanced up briefly when Ichigo sat across from him, but sighed deeply as he looked away. "... Good morning, Ichigo," he mumbled.

"Morning, Father..." sighed Ichigo, placing his bag on the ground before he moved to eat some fruits. Since Grimmjow's imprisonment, he had been feeling a little suspicious of what his father is thinking of his current behavior. He would think that his parent, being the head of the family, he would have been already forbidden from visiting him. Instead, Isshin had been unusually quietly over the situation as the family ate.

His little sisters, knowing their place, didn't speak or ask about the Gaul's predictament, though Yuzu was visibly worried while Karin simply frowned about it. It was a good thing, Ichigo couldn't really explain the reason why he was concerned about Grimmjow and he wanted to keep them in the dark about his secret since they were innocent to his eyes.

"Don't... don't you need to go to another business trip anytime soon, Father?" Ichigo struck up a conversation.

"No, there's not much to do in my work right now," muttered Isshin. "Doesn't matter, it's best to lay low for now due to our current... problems." At the mention of it, Ichigo felt a pang of guilt before turning his attention back to his food. Even with his secret affair with Grimmjow, it almost felt like his relationship was the reason his family felt ashamed by the public.

Maybe this was something Nel was afraid of. "If we are hiding away from the public, then how come you don't mind me visiting Grimmjow...?" he asked quietly. His father looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze, and Ichigo instantly regretted his question. Even when he would be annoyed by his normally jovial and eccentric personality, seeing his serious demeanor often made him anxious. But Isshin's expression softened as he let out a deep sigh.

"You're his only friend, Ichigo... it would make sense to keep him company and assure his ease of being imprisoned," he explained. "Slave or not, he's still human and to isolate him would only make things worse. To have him descending into madness would only make the public believe that he really is nothing but a bloodthirsty savage. We all know that he had never done anything to purposely disrespect our family, it's just that he had a worse turn of event."

"Yeah... right, that's true..." nodded Ichigo. "... Guess I should be going now," he muttered as he stood up, taking his satchel with him. "I'll see if I could teach Grimmjow more on the reading and writing." His father smiled a little at him and nodded.

"Just be careful, as usual..."

Ichigo nodded and turned to leave, but not before pausing to see Nel standing nearby. "See you later, Nel," he smiled at her, and Nel put up a small smile.

"All right, Ichigo..." she nodded at him. After that, Ichigo left the villa, but his mind was elsewhere. He wondered if his father was really getting suspicious of his time with Grimmjow right now. As a matter of fact, any good Roman would gladly give away misbehaving slaves, so why was his father overly lenient about someone like Grimmjow...? Of course he would treat anyone regardless of class, proving it with the marriage of the teen's mother despite of her humble background.

But this was different. To still trust the one person who was considered highly dangerous to the Roman people was something Ichigo couldn't really understand. Then again, Ichigo was the one to talk for being with him. He smiled a little to himself at the thought, as he reached the city. But as he walked through the busy streets, he heard a nearby commotion from a tightly knitted crowd. "Hm...?" he frowned in slight confusion.

For one thing, the crowd was blocking his shortcut to his destination and it would take a long time to find another route. It was easier to wait for whatever it was passing by, as he wiggled through the civilians to the front. When he finally got through, however, all he saw was a sea of blood-red and iron. He instantly knew what was going on and froze at the sight of it. Army soldiers were marching by, either to another campaign or someone important had arrived to Rome. He was a bit curious of what was going on but his need to see Grimmjow seemed to feel more important as he watched dozens of uniformed men marching either on foot or horseback.

"... Wonder what's all of this about?" muttered someone near the teen.

"You haven't heard? This is some of the men employed by that dispicable praetor..." answered another person. Despite of the buzzed commotion, Ichigo felt an ice-cold shiver running up his body from what he heard. If these were Ginjou's men, then were the man himself? With widened eyes, he looked at the direction where the soldiers were going to. From a fair distant, the destination seemed to be at the Forum. It made sense, since the senate buildings were nearby. But for what exactly? Does it involve Ginjou somehow?

Seeing the last of the soldiers going by, it wasn't long until he noticed the other Romans resuming back to their business, as if the march hadn't happened. But Ichigo was still concerned about what was going on. As much as he wanted to question it, it was obvious that it was a political matter so it wasn't his place to talk about it. A few moments had gone by, until he finally reached the building. The guards had been already used to his presence as one of them opened the heavy door for him to enter.

Inside, he made his way to the underground cells before turning around a corner, and grinned in relief at the sight of Grimmjow albeit slouching in the wall with his chains. As if on command, an army guard assigned to the cell saw him and moved to open the iron gate. "... Thank you very much," he nodded to him before stepping inside.

Already, Grimmjow was grinning as he saw Ichigo walking up to him before kneeling down. Even with the conflicts from days ago, he was glad to get to see his master as Ichigo took out his parchments. "Morning, kid... I see that you're going to lecture me with your teaching," he smirked lightly. "As if being chained here wasn't terrible enough..."

"Tch, it's better for you to learn, Grimmjow," smiled Ichigo. "After all, we only managed to teach you just a few words."

"I don't think knowing the words 'dog' and 'horse' and 'apple' will help me get by in the coming days," he scoffed in amusement. Ichigo smiled back, but when the Gaul looked at him, he noticed his eyes were telling a different matter and he frowned a little. "... Did something happen you're not telling me, Ichigo...?" he muttered quietly, not want the nearby guard to listen in.

Ichigo stared at his eyes back knowingly, before taking out the other writing materials. "... Do you remember your alphabet, Grimmjow?" he asked.

"Uh... yeah, of course," Grimmjow nodded.

"Then you should know how letters form words to make words, that's why you need to sound it out and read said words," he advised. "I'll write the words and you try to sound it out, okay?" Grimmjow frowned, he knew that Ichigo was hiding something from him but with watchful eyes on him, he could only play along.

"I can try, kid," he sighed as he sat up. Ichigo nodded and began to write a word at the top of the parchment, one letter at a time slowly. With a sharp focused gaze, Grimmjow watched the letters being formed. He recognized them from the alphabet but what did it spell?

"P... R... A... E... T... O... R..."

Grimmjow scrunched up his eyebrows in slight confusion. He wondered what it said, as he picked up the parchment to study it further. "... Do you understand what it say right there, Grimmjow?" Ichigo muttered. "Sound it out carefully and slowly to me..."

"But-"

"Just sound it out, Grimmjow," nodded Ichigo, staring straight at his cyan eyes. "Look at the letters then try to sound it out to me, okay...?" Grimmjow frowned but glanced at the word again. In his mind, he was spelling out the word correctly but to his own knowledge the word itself seemed gibberish. Taking a deep breath, he remembered how each letter sounded before making words. Ichigo had once told him that how Roman children learn how to read.

"... Puhh... puhh-rah..." he grumbled with some amount of difficulty, his husky tone rolling off his tongue. "Puhh-rah... ehh- ehh-tohh... Puhh-rah... ehh-tohh...?"

"Almost..." Ichigo nodded.

"Uh, it's the closest I can make out of it, kid," sighed Grimmjow. "What is this puh-rah-ehh-tohh you're talking about...?" But as soon as he said it again, it immediately struck him like a thunderbolt, as he stared back at Ichigo in disbelief and realization. "Wait a minute...!" he gasped, leaning close to him. "Is this what I think it says...?" he whispered.

"... Yeah," nodded Ichigo. Grimmjow finally figured it out, it said 'Preator'. Meaning... something was happening involving Ginjou. "There was a commotion earlier, and I thought you needed to know."

"... Will this help me, kid?" he asked quietly. "Will Aizen and the other senators do something for my benefit?"

"I really don't know, but let's hope so," Ichigo replied with a light smile. "Come on, we can worry about it later, let's get back to your spelling and writing." Grimmjow sighed but smirked back. Even with the tedious lessons, it was the best since they were together again, as he listened to his master's rudimentary lecture.

But in the back of his mind, he wondered about Ginjou's situation. The time from the assassination attempt to right now was a total blank but he was waiting almost impatiently for any news to come by. And he wanted to know if he could find a way to stay here, as he doesn't want to leave Ichigo, who was mumbling to him before the teen frowned at him. "... What?" he frowned back.

"You weren't listening to me, Grimmjow," frowned Ichigo. "I said to write, 'Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you', over a dozen times. It's not that hard."

"Tch, whatever..."

(Blood and Sand)

Standing in the center of the senate floor, Ginjou merely looked ahead with a neutral frown. He knew what he was here for, feeling the eyes on him by dozens of middle-aged politicians. He knew, he had a feeling that something was far different than the usual lecture. After all... right behind him, he could feel the stern bronze eyes glaring at him like searing fire. Not only that, he could see Magistrate Kuchiki out of rhe corners of his eyes with a critical frown on his noble face. No doubt he was still mad over his documents being stolen.

Most fortunately, the only one not required to witness this embarrassment was the emperor himself, but it didn't mean that he wouldn't lose his job over it or rather his citizenship. As he waited, his eyes caught who was walking by from a distant. It was Ukitake, appearing as ill as usual but was just as serious, walking quietly in front of him.

"... Praetor Kuugo Ginjou..." he stated calmly.

"Senator Ukitake... it's a pleasure to see you looking well," muttered Ginjou, but the senator simply frowned gravely as he paced around him.

"... I suppose you know why you are here, Praetor," he muttered. Ginjou narrowed his eyes slightly at that comment. So that was it, he was going to get persecuted for his crimes, to try to kill Aizen as well as Kyouraku and this ailing senator.

"I... honestly do not, considering the sudden call to have me here without any warning," he answered evenly, keeping his expressiona as disinterested as possible.

"Well... we have received words earlier this week, involving you..." said Ukitake, a soft noise coughed out of his voice a few times. "There have been accusations of what you have commited, against notable members of the Senate. Accusations in which is truly questionable and very incriminating, might I add..." A rumbling wave of surprised mutterings was heard throughout the floor, most wondering what he was going at. Aizen, however, remained silent as he listened patiently.

"Incriminating, you say...?" sighed Ginjou, turning to look at him. "And what, pray tell, is considering incriminating, Senator Ukitake? I don't believe I have done anything wrong. At least as far as I known..."

"I see..." sighed Ukitake. "Then you don't mind when I tell you of the crime you are accused of... that you attempted to murder your former uncle with poison..." At that, the quiet mumbling soon erupted into a shocked and surprised exclamations from the politicians.

"It couldn't be...!"

"That's absurd, Ukitake!"

"Why would the praetor do such a thing...?!"

"Just to risk his job...!"

Ukitake calmly held his hand up, and almost immediately the other senators quieted down. His face was as neutral as Ginjou, who wasn't even surprised at the accusation. "... Do you deny such a thing, Praetor?" he asked quietly. "Is it true that you attempt to kill Senator Aizen?"

"... Is there any proof that I've commited such a crime, Senator Ukitake?" Ginjou questioned, causing more alarmed murmuring.

"Well, it is believed that you yourself sent the poison to him... in a form of a pitcher of wine, might I add," he explained. "He was suspicious of the wine as soon as you left and one of his slaves volunteered to drink it... with unfortunate results."

"Is that slave dead?" Ginjou asked bluntly and Ukitake blinked at him.

"I'm sorry, what did you say...?"

"I'm asking whether or not the slave was killed from the wine," he rephrased. "If I really attempted to murder my former uncle in that way, then his servant should be dead. But if he's still alive but merely sick, it just proves that the wine was poorly made." The murmurs and the whispers came back again and within the seats, Aizen's frown deepened in disbelief. It sounded like Ginjou was going around the question, pointing the blame to someone else instead of himself.

"... Knowing you, it wasn't some low-quality wine, so it couldn't have been already tempered with," Ukitake debated. This time, Ginjou frowned at him but held his tongue as the ailing senator walked around him again. "Unless of course... you were the one who tempered with the drink before visiting Senator Aizen. As well as another pitcher of wine sent to Senator Kyouraku."

Ginjou narrowed his eyes at that, before discreetly looking around. Now that he had realized it... Kyouraku was notably absent among the other politicians. Was this a trick to prove his guilt...? "Is there something a matter, Praetor?" questioned Ukitake, catching his attention. "Is there something you wish to inquire to prove your innocence?"

"Yes... I actually do..." he frowned. "If I had sent the wine to Senator Kyouraku, surely he would be ill as well, correct?"

"Yes, that is true..." nodded the senator.

"Then it would explain his absence today," he said. "I would understand you being absent, considering your condition, but Senator Kyouraku's not the type to miss such a meeting despite of his lazy personality. But I don't think he can sick so easily as that..."

"Anybody can become ill or even die from poisoning," Ukitake frowned. "You and I should know that, Praetor, history had been filled with personal murders and assassinations after all."

"Well then... I should be given a fair trial over it, my good Senator," smirked Ginjou. "I am a high-ranking officer, as well as a nobleman from a high-class family despite of me being disowned. If I was a low-bred shit from the gutter, I would already be decapitated... Too bad, under the law I am protected until proven otherwise." The white-haired senator nearly ruffled at his vulgarity but sighed and shook his head, before standing in front of the man.

"That much is true... we cannot do anything until you are given a trial," he sighed just before more clamoring erupted. But throughout the noises, Aizen was simply stone-faced but said nothing of it. As much as he hated it, he knew it was the law regardless of his opinions. Byakuya was silent as well, frowning deeply as he crossed his arms. First the theft of his documents and now this...

"If he had been an emperor, this world would have been far more destructive..." he muttered quietly among the chaos.

(Blood and Sand)

Even with the meager meals he had been eating, Grimmjow eagerly wolfed down the apples and meat that Ichigo had brought for him. As his sharp teeth tore through the pork, Ichigo sighed at the sight of his mannerism. "Goodness, Grimmjow... you would think you used to eat like this during your first days as a slave," he frowned.

"Yeah, but I've never realized I felt so depraved of my meat until now," grinned Grimmjow. "I was getting tired of eating that shitty stew that filled with nothing but fucking vegetables."

"Tch, you can't just eat nothing but meat all day every day," he scoffed lightly, sitting next to him. "So... how have you been holding up in here, Grimmjow?" he asked quietly. Finishing the last of his meat, Grimmjow simply shrugged, knowing it was a lot harder to explain his true feelings about it.

"It's obviously no fun without you here, kid," he joked a little. But Ichigo was being serious about it when he stared at him, and he frowned a little. "... It's kinda true, you know... since I'm stuck here. There's no one to talk to, and I'm sure as hell not gonna talk to any of these guards here..."

"I know that..." sighed his master. "Just keeping holding on, Grimmjow. It's been over six days now..."

"Well, seven if you count me being taken away from the arena," he pointed out.

"Right..."

"Yet, it feels a little longer without you around..." Grimmjow muttered. Both of them fell silent for a while, not sure what topic to speak of since the Gaul's imprisonment. Ichigo simply sighed and laid his head against Grimmjow's shoulder and in turn felt his lover's heavier head nestled into his hair. "I will come back, kid..." he finally spoke. "I could care less about Roman laws, as long as I can come to you."

"I don't like it when you're this stubborn, Grimm..." Ichigo sighed.

"Well, my stubborness involves around you, so it's not my fault," he said quietly. "I'll find a way, no matter what..." Ichigo made a soft noise of agreement but he was still worried about the broken plan. Everywhere in the empire, there was no doubt that any army soldier stationed in the regions of Gaul would see him trying to sneak back. And with him being a natural troublemaker, it might become worse if the confrontation were to become physical. Something that Ichigo doesn't want to happen, as his hand moved to grip the man's rough one.

"Epona misses you too..." he muttered. "She knows that you're not around to take care of her, and her eyes are full of sadness whenever we come into her stall."

"I had a feeling about that..." frowned Grimmjow.

"Yeah... she would nuzzle at me when I come by, as if asking whether or not you're coming back," he replied. "It was nothing I can say to her, that you're going away..."

"I know, but hopefully you'll be there for her... You're her master now," he said, but Ichigo chuckled a little.

"I doubt it, she listened only to you. Last time I tried to take her out for a walk, she decided to sit in the field and stare at the sky all afternoon," smiled the teen.

"Is that right?" smirked Grimmjow.

"Uh-huh... I joined her and asked what cloud shapes did she see," he joked. Grimmjow chuckled lightly. But only a hint of sadness was in his tone. Ichigo wasn't the only one who was missing him. Maybe he could ask if he take Epona back to his homeland, but like his terrible plan to sneak back into Rome, it was probably impossible to happen. "... Is there anything else you wanna talk about, Grimmjow?" asked Ichigo when he glanced up at him.

"No, I can't think of anything at the moment," shrugged Grimmjow before frowning. "At least, not unless something's happening involving you-know-who..."

"Oh, well... I haven't heard what has been going on for the past few days," Ichigo said. "This is a higher level of scandals so I don't know what the senators are doing. But we have to wait and see."

"Does this mean that my depature will be delayed until then, kid?" asked Grimmjow.

"... I honestly don't know, Grimm..." Ichigo felt a firm squeeze in his hand before he felt the Gaul's weight shifting away from him. He looked at him again, noticing the subtle but disheartening expression on his face. There was nothing else he could do to cheer him up with the borrowed time they were on. They could only hope that it wouldn't end too soon before Grimmjow would be taken away from him.

"... It's almost time for you to leave, kid," spoke Grimmjow, taking Ichigo out of his musing. "See, the light from outside is getting dimmer, it's almost evening," he muttered.

"Ah, right," Ichigo realized. "I need to get back home. Father doesn't want me to be out late..." Ichigo slowly stood up, his slim hand close to slipping from Grimmjow's grip, but the older man quickly grabbed for it back. Ichigo stared at him with slight confusion, but Grimmjow smirked at him in reassurance.

"Next time, bring more food for me," he smirked. "Make it enough to feed about three or four people, that's my limit."

"Tch, you'll get sick from eating that much..." Ichigo frowned at him.

"Who knows? Maybe that would delay my departure, since nobody doesn't want a Gaul puking all over them," he joked.

"Tch, whatever... I'll see you tomorrow, Grimmjow..." sighed Ichigo. His lover reluctantly let go of his hand, his usual smirk faded into a disappointed frown, almost like a child not wanting his father to leave. Ichigo frowned sadly as well, he didn't want to leave Grimmjow, as the cell gate opened. He didn't want to see the man's expression and simply walked out of the building.

The early evening sky was cloaked with thin layers of cloud, with the setting sun still visible, when Ichigo's legs broke into a light jog. He didn't want to think how sad or alone Grimmjow was feeling every single night. His father was really right, without him around the former gladiator would act more depraved from lack of human contact. Or better yet... a lack of contact from the teen himself. Leaving the city, he climbed up a few hills, feeling soft pricks of raindrops coming down on his skin. "Hahh... finally..." he breathed as he reached home, but took a detour to the stall.

Epona glanced up at the sight of him, grunting and snorting almost in excitement when Ichigo walked up to her. "Hey there, girl..." he smiled softly as he moved to pet her nose. "You can smell Grimm's scent on me, huh? I know... he's still not here, but he wishes he can see you as much as you wanted to see him."

The mare grunted softly as her ears flicked downward as if to express sadness. "Yeah... I understand," Ichigo muttered, his fingers rubbing over the smooth fur. "There's nothing I can do about it, Epona. If I could take you to see Grimmjow just like that, I would. But it's not possible... I'm really sorry." Epona huffed but understood his words, nuzzling her nose at his face. If she was a human, Ichigo would have gotten an actual hug from her.

"... Ichigo? Oh, Ichigo, you're home...!" Ichigo turned to see Nel. He could see relief in her eyes, but there was something else... almost like surprise and excitement but there was a hint of worry in her expressions as well.

"Nel...? Is there something wrong?" he frowned as he walked up to her.

"No, but... Renji and Magistrate Kuchiki had just arrived, and we were waiting for you," she replied. Ichigo blinked in utter surprise, what does she mean by that?

"Waiting for me, for what?" he questioned.

"Come on... I'm sure the magistrate has a better explanation than I do," she said, before gripping his hand before they left the stall. Ichigo was confused, but apprehension soon tingled in his mind. Was it about Grimmjow's surviving friend? Did Byakuya stop by to say that he can no longer help them...? That was something he was truly afraid of, as they entered the villa. "Here, Ichigo..." whispered Nel, leading him upstairs to Isshin's office.

Ichigo blinked at the sight of his father as well as Byakuya and his dutiful slave behind him, before Isshin glanced at Nel. "Where was he...?" the head of the family inquired.

"In the stall, looking after the horse, sir," Nel nodded. "I believed he had just come home."

"I understand... go back to your duty, Nel," sighed Isshin.

"Yes, sir..." Nel nodded once again, giving a fleeting look at Ichigo before leaving the office. Ichigo almost fidgeted nervously of what he might hear, but kept his face stiff as he frowned.

"... Is there something you wanted to see me for, Father...?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, Ichigo... Magistrate Kuchiki came to inform us about the situation involving Grimmjow's friend..." Isshin frowned grimly, and his son nearly bristled in surprise.

"But-"

"No, Ichigo, let me explain further," he said sternly and Ichigo instantly shut up. "... Tell me, Ichigo, you said that both you and Grimmjow believed Ginjou had captured his friend, correct...?"

"Y-yes... I wasn't so sure myself but I truly thought it was him," nodded Ichigo. "But when Grimmjow saw him, he realized that it was an imposter..."

"We know that... we've even seen said imposter hanging dead a few days back," frowned Byakuya. "It was quite unsettling, especially with the fact that he had never admitted to stealing my documents..."

"Well, then... what does all of that mean?" Ichigo asked, frowning in slight confusion. "How does this have to do with Grimmjow's friend...?" Byakuya took a deep sigh before glancing at Renji, who gave a knowing nod.

"It's... best if you go with Renji, he can explain to you in your family's slave quarters," he advised.

"Huh? What?" Ichigo frowned, before the red-haired slave walked up to him.

"Come on, Ichigo..." nodded Renji, before leaving the office. Still confused, Ichigo followed right after him, trying to figure out what everybody was trying to say. Grimmjow's friend seemed to be a center of it but he wasn't sure why. Renji was moving quick, as they went downstairs and passed the garden for the second one.

"Wait, Renji...!" he called out. "I don't get it, what is there I have to see?"

"You'll see soon enough..." nodded Renji. Ichigo frowned again, but the other man smirked at him in reassurance. "Don't worry, I'm sure this is a very good thing. For both you and Grimmjow..."

"Huh...?" Renji rushed downstairs, to the slaves' quarters. As the teen followed after him, the red-head quickly turned to the right, going to Grimmjow's old room. "Renji, what are we...?" he frowned, going into the room. But the moment he stepped in, he suddenly froze at what, or rather who he saw on the bed. "... What on earth...?" he gasped softly.

On the bed was a teenage boy, probably close to his age, lying on his back with a seemingly sickly pale look on his face. His eyes were close tightly as if trying to will away a possible headache. His hair, though smudged with dirt, was a color of white-blond. Ichigo cautiously took a step forward for a closer look, seeing that the boy appeared emaciated from constant bouts of hunger due to the slave trade, now that he noticed the collarbone jutting underneath the thin layer of skin. Even his cheeks had sunken in. But as he stared at him, Ichigo couldn't help but wonder...

"... This is Grimmjow's friend, right?" he asked so quietly, turning to Renji who nodded.

"It has to be him," he muttered. "Grimmjow was specific of what he looked like, not many Gauls are this young during the slave trade so it was easier to narrow him down."

"But then... you managed to get him so fast," he said in amazement and Renji smiled lightly.

"Like I said, Master was very persistent and was trying to make it up for you guys," he replied.

"Oh, I don't know how much gratitude I have for you and Byakuya," Ichigo grinned.

"No need, even though it was my master's job I only wanted to do this for a good friend," smiled Renji, patting him on the shoulder. "Do you remember what the kid's name is, had Grimmjow mentioned it before...?"

"Yeah... his name is Diroy..." nodded Ichigo, and the red-head's grin widened at the answer.

"Then we really did a good job...!" he exhaled in deep relief. "Before we took him in, I asked for his name. It was pretty weak, but his answer was that... Diroy..." Ichigo smiled and wanted to laugh and cheer, after almost a year and a half he had finally found his lover's friend through trials and hardship. But he didn't want to make too much noise, not when Diroy was very ill from malnourishment.

But it didn't matter, when the teenager coughed and wheezed out of his fitful nap. Ichigo turned to him and already the need to protect him went into his mindset, as he rushed to his bedside. He could see the bleary dark-grey eyes opening as well as a couple of teeth missing when the boy breathed through his mouth. "... Can you understand me?" he muttered quietly, looking for any sign.

"Ah... y-yeah..." he managed to speak, his voice raspy from dehydration as he looked at him.

"Then... you must understand that under Roman law, you are my slave..." Ichigo explained. "But it doesn't mean that I will simply treat you like property... I want to be you friend, I want you to get better for your sake. Do you understand that...?"

"... Think so..." Diroy nodded a little, and Ichigo smiled.

"This should be a good thing... I've been looking for you for over a year now, as a request from a very good friend of yours..." he said, and Diroy frowned.

"Wh-who...?"

"... It was Grimmjow, who had been wanting to see you all this time..."

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Ughhh! I can't stand the heat wave! If only I have an AC to cool down my home but I'm moving soon so we can't buy one yet. So yeah, I finally did it, Grimm got his friend back! It's too bad that something terrible's gonna happen! Hah, I'm such a troll...!

Read and review.

I'll update ASAP!