Ichigo pulled at his dark hair in a languid manner, fingers twirling the strands into chords back and forth as he waited for his next turn in the ring. Kaien was leaning against the bars of his cage, keeping their backs connected as the musical lull of cheering and pain filtered into the cage area. Ichigo paid the sound and touch little attention as he tried to not rub his eyes. The new contacts itched like hell. Every passing second made him want to ditch the damned things. They were screwing with his sight too, making lines blurry and turning colors milky.

His first fight had been interesting to say the very least. The blurred edges of his opponent's arms and legs had managed to graze him a few times too many for his liking but he'd pulled one of his miraculous wins out of his sleeve soon enough. He hadn't dared to try finding Grimmjow's hair in the crowds though. Not like he would have been able to see the man's worries if he had.

There was an ear shattering explosion of sound from the ring as Ichigo found himself pondering over what Grimmjow's face would have looked like after the fight. He shifted his body to lean against Kaien's in a silent question. Silence rang for a moment until Kaien's elbow pressed at the left of Ichigo's lower back. A body was dragged past them a few seconds later but Ichigo paid it no mind. Tournaments went that way. Bodies tended to pile up on these heavy nights. As much of a shame as it was, Ichigo knew better than to cry over spilled blood. Especially over someone he couldn't recognize thanks to his contacts.

Marcus and Aaroniero were standing nearby, chatting from what Ichigo could tell. They were keeping their bodies close, shoulders touching, heads leaning towards each other's ears. If there were ever a time Ichigo wished he could read lips or had super hearing, it was on nights of tournaments when Guards spoke to each other. He'd heard some before placing bets and such but there were times when Guards who didn't see eye to eye would talk about things like they were childhood friends. The remained that Marcus was a former slave and Ichigo's friend. Also, Aaroniero was a Guard. What would the two of them have to say to each other?

He settled into the corner of the cage, his back coming into contact with Kaien's past the bars separating them. It was a nostalgic feeling having another back against his. It was a dim memory that he could almost make out past the mist of the past that he and his brother had always been together. A clearer memory was Zangetsu wanting to help him stay warm but not making his affections too noticeable. He'd probably done the same with Chad as well as Kaien. The release of tension from Kaien as soon as their backs touched made Ichigo wonder at how comforting an inherent action could be.

The slaves all craved touch. It was something they were all but denied the right to. Crowded cages didn't mean friendly touches at night. The ring was simply a place to throw one's life away if they weren't careful. Teaching or being taught wasn't a gentle process either. Touch was craved and feared. It still confused him that he had been so willing to let Grimmjow touch him without thought. There had been hardly any hesitation since the first hospital visit. At least, on Ichigo's part there wasn't. Grimmjow could have filled coal trains with his nervous hesitations before he got comfortable.

He pulled his hair a little harder than he'd meant to then. The thoughts racing in his mind were dangerous and distracting. He had other things on his mind that had to be explored. Grimmjow was planning to have a raid tonight. It hinged on getting someone's voice recorded making a deal to help him get a slave in an illegal manner. He had to basically set up a kidnapping while proving it was something these men did all the time.

There had been mentions of video surveillance that was inadmissible due to constraints. No one knew who was sending the tapes (Ichigo highly doubted that though), there were no real landmarks within the ring so there weren't any in the tapes, and there was the issue that the tapes really only showed Kaien and possibly Chad but none of the higher ranking Masters.

"Hey Kaien," Ichigo whispered.

"Yeah?"

"If I were to tell you there might be a raid tonight, and that you have to trust that we will all be safe, what would you say?"

"I'd say you're fooling yourself..."

"I told you to trust me remember?"

"Yeah but...Raids are nearly as dangerous as the ring."

It was silent for a moment between them, memories almost tangible as they sat through the clamor of the ring. They hadn't been used as shields but they knew slaves who had.

"My owner is leading it," Ichigo whispered.

"Your owner is a gang member. Before you ask, it's obvious."

"If I told you he's a cop assigned to your missing person's case?"

The question hung for a moment. Kaien shifted against Ichigo.

"Trust you..." Kaien whispered.

"Hm?"

"I trust you Ichi. I really do. It's just..."

"Trust me again."

"Ichi..."

"Grimm and I will get you home Kaien. It's our job. It's why I'm back here."

Kaien sighed. "Fine..."

"Kaien..."

"Yes?"

"Happy Thanksgiving."