This intro will begin a bit different than most, so I apologize for that. I also apologize for this incredibly, painfully delayed last chapter, I'll admit real life has been a real kick in the asshole haha.

Just to reveal a bit about myself, I am a PACU/ICU nurse in the United States. I work 3 12's, so often I have plenty of time to obtain hobbies, for fun and also simply for my own mental health.

As many know, the delta variant has caused quite an upsurge in COVID cases. Within the last 2 weeks 98% of my hospital's COVID admissions have been unvaccinated. Instead of my standard 36-40 hour weeks, I have worked 60-70.

I'm not here to preach. I'm here just to say, please educate yourself. Please do your research. I'm tired of bagging bodies.

Alas, sorry if that killed the mood. Back to fun things! Enjoy the last chapter! :D

XxXxXxXxX

Grimmjow's POV

"Thanks again for the help," I speak into my cell.

The voice on the other line responds, "No prob boss. Take care of the kid."

I reel in the scathing response that's on the tip of my tongue. Dumbass Starrk. As if I would ever need to be told to look after the love of my life.

"Done," I finally reply before hanging up. I toss the phone onto the couch and continue sifting through webpages on my laptop. I take a large gulp of my coffee, finishing the mug. I am not a morning person.

Ichigo and I are back at my place. It's been 2 days since I confronted Peter Gollifield, and Starrk just called to confirm that Gollifield's home is aptly vacant. Most of the paintings were left behind, and based on Starrk's report it's absolute disarray in every room of the house. Gollifield had likely been packing up his shit so frantically he left chaos behind in his wake.

Of course, based on our recent interaction and my very clear threat, it's no surprise.

Ichigo takes a sip of his coffee, watching me from the adjacent seat cushion. He shakes his head. "Are you done terrorizing the neighbors now? Have we finally reached the end of your hit list?" He meets my gaze with a small smirk.

He's being cute, but I also know he's not actually joking. Nnoitra, Yammy, Aizen, Gollifield. I plowed through every enemy I could get my hands on. Ichigo didn't want bloodshed—he doesn't want bloodshed.

"Yeah Ichi, all done. Promise." I swallow, my voice sincere, "And…I'm sorry I didn't respect your wishes sooner. I let my emotions take control; it won't happen again."

And me, saying that? Never in my lifetime did I anticipate those words would leave my mouth. Never did I believe emotion would be what I have to apologize for.

Ichigo leans forward and gives me a kiss on the lips. I greedily accept, and he tastes bitter from the coffee but sweet because it's him. He's the fucking most delicious man alive.

I deepen the kiss, and I entangle my fingers in his thick orange hair.

It's weird, thinking back on when I first met Ichigo at Rukongai. I fucked every female who moved, flirted relentlessly, but had somehow sidestepped the most beautiful person in the bar.

With my lips pressed to his I vow never, never again. My eyes are only on him now, where they belong.

Soon Ichigo parts from the kiss with a small but genuine smile, and that just makes me want to kiss him again. And again. And again. Deeper, longer, harder. Fuck.

He stands, holding his empty coffee cup, while I shift in my spot on the sofa to mask my now full-on erection.

"—need another?"

I only register the tail-end of his question. Staring at him with a vacant expression, I am hyperaware of the hard cock fighting the confines of my jeans. I finally ask, "…What?" I stare at his lips. There is a wet dew on his bottom lip that I want to suck dry.

Ichigo flicks my forehead and points to my empty coffee cup. "You horny bastard. Do you want another cup of coffee?"

"Oh! Fuck sorry." I hand him my cup almost reverently, mortified. My eyes are big and contrite, "Yes please."

Ichigo chuckles, and he bends down and steals another kiss. "You're good Bluebird." Then he take our cups to the kitchen, and I watch as he walks away. I wouldn't be surprised if drool is dripping down the side of my mouth.

2 days. It's only been 2 days since Gollifield, and the rest of the shitshow still happened within the last week. It's all still so fresh.

Not to mention, Ichigo and I are also very…new. We haven't defined what "this" is, but I know this is new territory for him. Last night beneath the covers, with his head resting on my chest, Ichigo had coyly muttered, "You…fucked up my entire life plan. It's so confusing. This is all…" He had shook his head. "Not what I expected. But, in a good way."

I take those words very seriously, and I fully understand what he's saying. I don't understand it, but I understand it.

Hell, it's new territory for me too. I am oyabun of Pantera. For so long I was taught anyone outside Pantera is foreign, they're not family. I have merely fumbled from one fling into the next, tripping the entire way.

What I have now…is something sacred. Something cherished and beautiful and pure and I refuse to ruin it because of a persistent, ill-timed hard-on.

I listen to Ichigo bustle around in the kitchen. I mentally visualize him wearing nothing but an apron. He's cooking food on the stove, the steam from the pan making him hot and a light sweat drizzleing over his body. Then maybe he needs to bend over and put a dish in the bottom oven…?

Fuck. My erection is merciless, and I can feel myself start to break a sweat. I quickly turn to my laptop and google images of old people wearing granny panties. After a moment my cock droops a little, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Ichigo's hotness may be the death of me.

XxXxX

"Grimm. I have a question."

I look up from my spot on the couch, my face still in my laptop screen. I just finished my third cup of coffee, and Ichigo is standing near the corner of the room with his back to me.

He is currently browsing the numerous pieces of artwork scattered throughout the house. And unlike fucking Gollifield's, the decorations in this home are much more elegant.

I had told him the artwork on that wall was either purchased from a vendor, or painted by my deceased mom. It seems like he's seeking out the ones painted by my mom, looking for her signature, and he's now standing in front of a painting she did of one of our old homes when I was a kid. We had a lot of land then, and despite my father's yakuza lifestyle, Mom had insisted they own land for her 2 horses. In the horizon of the painting you can see the stable where Hazelnut and Buttons were kept. My mom…such a free spirit. A beautiful person.

I reply, "What's up babe?" I close the laptop and provide my full attention. I love that he is viewing the artwork, I love how curious he has been about my life. Especially when I have been so fucking curious and fascinated by him for so goddamn long.

The words that come out of his mouth are not what I expect. His back still faces me as he asks, "What was on that USB drive?"

For a full five seconds, my brain just goes blank. The engines that generate my brain shut off and the tiny aliens in my head all press the self-destruct button.

The…USB drive.

I can feel myself finally, finally absorb the question. The protective shell around me begins to shatter. How…what…?

How the fuck had I forgotten? How could I allow myself to forget something so critically important? In my effort to ensure Ichigo didn't find the USB drive again, I fucking forgot about it myself. Fucking fuck that's a new level of stupid.

"Ichi, t-that's…that's a tough question." I'm admitting my defeat from the start. I fucked up now, shit.

Ichigo turns to look at me now, and his expression is neutral. "Starting with the truth is a good start, don't you think?" Not accusatory, but also not merry and jovial. His hands are in his pockets, and he walks toward where I'm sitting on the couch. He takes a seat in an adjacent plush chair. "I've been thinking about it, and…I want to know. I want to know why you reacted weird when I saw it." Ichigo is now watching me intently.

Flashes of the short clips I watched before somersault to the forefront of my brain. I think of the bag over Ichigo's head, and the sock in his mouth. I think of his pierced ears. I think of all the different injuries I had seen him accumulate. I think of how there were always spectators with their hands on their dicks, watching him with malicious, horny grins on their faces.

I think of…47,550. 47,550 minutes Ichigo was held against his will, raped, and tortured.

Ichigo, what they did to you…you didn't deserve it…you didn't deserve any of it…much less for it to be videoed and kept as a prize.

I swallow audibly. The laptop sitting on my lap is entirely forgotten, and I'm lost in a memory. "The…The USB was like their…trophy."

His eyebrows are downturned and his head is cocked to the side. The spark of realization hasn't hit yet. "What are you talking about? What trophy?"

I try not to let too much emotion leak from my voice, but it's overwhelming. I'm not prepared for this. But then again, I don't think I ever could be. "Those disgusting bastards. They, they video'ed…" I rub a sweaty palm across my forehead, and I feel wetness spark behind my eyes. I try to stamp it down. Saying it out loud is unbearable. "They video'ed t-the room they kept you in. It's a…" I cover my mouth as I choke on a sob. "It's a long video of you being r-raped over and over by those disgusting s-s-sons of bitches."

I have enough vengeance to fuel an army and enough despair to fill a hundred funerals. I can feel myself breaking, and all my walls are crumbling around me. I had built a fortress of strength. Being oyabun of Pantera had made me resilient and strong.

But I'm not…I'm not strong at all. I had been having such a normal, mundane day. But just bringing it up and I'm already fucking falling apart.

Ichigo's breath gets caught in his chest, and he doesn't finish his exhale. "W-Wait…what?" He is staring at me, deep into my soul. I don't know what he reads on my expression, but I watch as his confusion gradually morphs to horror. He shakes his head like he's in slow motion. "No…no way…that can't be."

I want to touch him, hold him. Instead I maintain my distance and try not to throw up. "Nnoitra and Yammy…they told me about it when I was…with them. They kept it in a drawer." For when they get bored, almost left my mouth, but I clamped my mouth so tight I may as well have put a big fat zipper on it and zipped it to the top. No fucking way does Ichigo need to know that.

His eyes are sightless as he stares at the floor, while also staring at nothing at all. He takes short and fast breaths. "T-They have…t-t-they have pr-proof t-that I was…raped?"

I'm falling apart and he's falling apart with me. In my angst I stand and run to his side, and when I'm in range I instinctively reach out to hold him. He shrieks. "No! G-Get away from me! Don't touch me!"

I instantly jump back ten yards, despite the fact I'm shaking from head to toe. This is all too real. I would rather have my gallbladder ripped out with a dull shiv than endure this emotional toll. Haven't we been through enough this week? Oh my fucking god I feel so fucking scared and hurt and broken.

I'm broken because Ichigo is breaking, he's breaking and I can't put him back together.

"Have you watched it?!" I can feel his piercing gaze, the rage he feels searing from his eyes and into my pores. "The video, have you seen it Grimmjow? Did you whack off to it like some sick fuck?"

Ichigo is lost in a nightmare. He is right back in that small storage room, handcuffed and blindfolded and terrified. A sob rips through me, and I meet his gaze. I implore, "No Ichi, of course not!" I shake my head fervently. "I-I only watched enough t-to make sure it was real…I just hadn't wanted to believe it…"

His bottom lip trembles, and like a candle on a stormy night, his rage suddenly extinguishes, and morphs into despair. The kind of despair I see in my victim's eyes right before I kill them…

Boneless, Ichigo falls off his chair and sinks to his knees. Clutching his head in his hands he breathes out, "I can't believe this…I can't believe you saw what they did to me…Holy fuck I can't believe it…"

I respond desperately, "I didn't Ichi, I swear! I only watched for a few moments. I, I had thought it wasn't real!" It's the truth! I hadn't believed Ichigo could possibly have been tortured for 47,550 minutes. I hadn't wanted to believe it. Please Ichi, I'm telling the truth!

He continues to have his head down, and all I see is the top of his bright orange hair. He takes a deep breath, then another. He is actively trying to slow his breathing, and it's clearly to slow his heartrate and help him calm down. At least hopefully that means to some degree he is listening to me.

"What…" He takes another deep breath. "What did you see?"

My beautiful Ichigo…why do you want to know something so painful?

I am as vague but honest as I can be. "I…I saw your pierced ears. And I saw y-your injuries. I saw those sick fucks who thought they could get away with hurting you." My brain can't help but think of how spread his legs were in the video. I subconsciously wonder how he would look with his legs spread in front of me.

Fuck Grimmjow get your-fucking-self together you're absolutely fucking disgusting.

He still has his head in his hands, blissfully unaware of my sordid thoughts. "…That's why you had brought up my pierced ears at the bar." He's slowly connecting the puzzle pieces. I wish he would let me see him. Not being able to see his facial expressions is agony.

"I, I-I am so fuckin' sorry Ichi. I'm so fuckin' sorry."

His shoulders surge upward, and he muffles a single sob. He takes another deep breath, then shakes his head. "Fuck Grimm…me too. I'm f-fuckin' sorry you had to see me doing shit so gross." He hangs his head lower, as if in shame, and to further hide his face.

"Please, please don't apologize to me. You are everything to me, and there is nothing about your past that can ever chase me away."

"I'm not going to be broken forever. Please believe that..."

My heart soars and I am hit with an emotion of infinite awe. Oh you beautiful, amazingly strong man. Wow. "I know, babe. And I'll be here to help you every step of the way. If you need me."

I can't see his eyes, but I see the small upward twitch of his lips. "Thanks Grimm." His palm crushes against his eye again, likely wiping away another tear. "S-Sorry again you had to see that."

I don't skip a beat. "I'm more sorry you had to live it."

He nods. A not-uncomfortable silence falls between us. I don't reach out to touch him, despite my intense urge, and he remains sitting on the floor, hands over his eyes.

I lick my lips. "Ichigo, I…I want to confess the true reason I kept the USB drive…" I swallow audibly, and I hate how nervous I'm feeling. Suddenly it's too hot in this room, and I'm desperate to turn a fan on or open a window.

But, for the first time Ichigo looks up from his hands, and I know it's game on. His eyes are big and sad and desperate.

I grit my teeth. "I had been so, so distraught by what I saw. Was fuckin' hysterical. I cared for you too much to be okay with that. And my goal had been to…" Here it is, I'm going to say it. The truth. "My goal was to give the USB to my colleague Starrk, and together we would find and kill every bastard who ever touched you."

There. It's done, it's out in the open. Ichigo knew about my hit list: Yammy, Nnoitra, Aizen, and Gollifield.

Now he knows…everyone.

People always say the truth sets you free, but fuck do I want more than anything to put the words back in my mouth. I'm disgusted by how inferior I am to Ichigo's ethics. Ichigo has helped me regain my humanity, but not all of it. Just days ago I had been ready to destroy them all, every single one of them.

Ichigo still hasn't spoken, and I continue. I speak with renewed vigor, "But please believe me, I've since axed the whole plan. Because it's me and you against the world Ichi. No one else. And this is about you, I want you to have a say."

And I know I said that before, but goddamn it I mean it more than ever now.

There is enough silence to last a lifetime. I watch Ichigo's face. He's still sad and huddled on the floor, but he's also pensive.

"I don't want to kill any more people."

I vigorously shake my head in agreement, "Of course. And I'm so goddamn sorry. I hate I kept that fuckin' USB in the first place."

"I don't want to worry about those guys, a-any of those guys. I-I finally escaped that life." He rests his head on the marble table in front of him. "God I just want to be done."

"I know Ichi, I know. But…" My voice is gentle and non-accusatory, "Babe, I need you safe. I need it more than I need to breathe. And…I don't know how to ensure your safety knowing all those bastards are still alive and free." Hell, most of those bastards are still members of Pantera. I hang my head low, oddly ashamed. "I'm so sorry Ichi. I did all of this partly for selfish reasons. I can't stand the thought of those bastards. And I don't fuckin' know what to do."

Ichigo's head lifts a little higher, and the crease in his forehead isn't so deep. "They're…all yakuza, right? Most of the culprits are members of your clan?"

I see an imaginary lightbulb flickering above Ichigo's head, and I lean in closer, "Yeah. Why do you ask?"

He ponders for a long moment then, "Is there some way we can just, get them caught committing a crime or something?"

This conversation had gotten so dark, I was so low. But my ears perk up at that, and I toss the idea around in my head.

That's…an interesting idea. We've all done so much illegal shit; our rap sheet is pages upon pages long. But…maybe that will be the key I need to unlock this treasure chest of horrors?

I am oyabun. I can order them to barge into a debtor's home looking to collect. But I'll have already planted police in the home to have them arrested…

While it's true in many instances police forces become corrupt due to the influence of yakuza, I…I am Grimmjow fucking Jaegerjaquez, I am oyabun. I am Pantera.

What an insightful idea. Why didn't I think of that? "Babe that isn't a bad idea. Fuck that's honestly a great idea." I'm still in awe, and in my excitement of finding a solution I reach out and pet Ichigo's thick hair, loving the feel of his orange strands running through my fingers. I'm relieved when Ichigo embraces the touch, and even offers a small smile.

Invigorated, I slide off the couch and sit on the floor, mimicking Ichigo. My gaze never leaves his fallen figure. My hand stills in his hair, and my voice takes a more serious tone. "I'm…I'm so fuckin' sorry for what you had to endure Ichi. I'm sorry you learned firsthand how absolutely horrible humanity is." I slowly scoot a few inches closer, then another few inches. My voice is drowned with emotion, and I'm barely staying above the surface. "You are strong, and so fucking brave. Nobody could have survived what you did. You are literally the most impressive person I've ever met."

And every single word I said is true. I have worked with, and fought against, so many badass yakuza. None of them hold a candle to Ichigo.

His eyes shine and there are a few tear tracks trailing down his cheeks. "T-Thanks Grimm." He graces me with his first smile since we began this conversation, and I'm infinitely grateful.

He wipes at his eyes. "S-Sorry about that, m-my reaction to the USB and all. I honestly should've expected something gross like that. D-Don't know why I was so damn blindsided."

I'm outraged and immediately respond, "No, don't apologize Ichi. I don't want you to apologize for anything ever again." I take my hand and slide some of his hair out of his eyes. "Ichi."

My voice is stern and hard and Ichigo meets my gaze. I stare into his beautiful chocolate orbs. "I love you."

Ichigo smiles wide. I will never get tired of saying those words. "I love you too." He leans in and our lips touch, and the rest of the day involves my limbs entangled with his.

This? This right here is my reason to live. I found him, and I'm never letting him go.

XxXxX

Epilogue

3 Weeks Later

Ichigo's POV

"Oh my gosh what are you doing?"

"Inoue let him go! He's gonna suffocate!"

Those words feel distant and distorted and like they're being spoken lightyears away. My hearing is starting to fade, just like my vision. Black spots are sprinkled and scattered in my line of sight, and a very real part of me knows I'm about to die.

But, just as my vision turns to black my lungs fill with air, and I'm revived in a way I didn't know possible. Oh my fucking god I will never take for granted breathing ever again.

I'm in tripod position taking in deep breaths of that oh-so-sweet oxygen, and Grimmjow is by my side and leaning into my ear. He whispers furiously, "Fuckin' hell Strawberry I almost hit her. I'm not kidding, I almost hit a girl today."

I half-smile on his behalf, amused by this admission. I want to remind him to behave, but I still haven't caught my breath. Instead I just keep taking in breaths like a dying man who was miraculously saved.

Grimmjow and I went to the park today to meet up with the gang; Rukia, Renji, Inoue, and Chad. With the sun shining and field lit up by its rays, we were all merry and enjoying each other's company.

But, parting ways had proven to be difficult, and I think if Inoue had hugged me any tighter my ribs would've broken or my spleen ruptured.

But besides my near-death experience with Inoue, this past week has been pure bliss. I never truly believed this would be a life I, Ichigo Kurosaki, could lead. I thought fate had taught me I wasn't deserving. But here I am, a life with friends, freedom, and an amazing lover.

The entire Pantera yakuza has been disbanded, and nearly every member is now behind bars. Starrk parted ways, and flew off to some island he said "only rich people know about." So much has happened. So fucking much. It's going to take me months just to digest everything that's changed.

Thick and Lank. The two bastards who have haunted me for so long…they're dead. They're actually fucking dead. Wow.

And all because of this fucking Bluebird.

I barely glance at him now, who is still standing close beside me with an arm hovering behind my back. Another big change is standing right in front of me…

Inoue suddenly shifts to stand ever-closer to me, and I fight the innate instinct to push the threat away. In my periphery I notice Grimmjow's irate glare.

Inoue doesn't seem to notice, and her eyes are big and remorseful in my direction. "Oh no Kurosaki-kun, I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Oh man I'm such a klutz. I'm just gonna miss you so much."

Rukia puts a hand on Inoue's shoulder, expression worried. "Ya gotta be careful with that man-strength Inoue. He looks half-dead."

I finally feel like I'm breathing at a normal capacity, and I stand up straight and glare at her, "Don't be a dick Rukia. Jesus is watching."

She promptly throws a roundhouse kick toward my face, but Grimmjow's impressive dexterity blocks it almost immediately. Grimmjow grins. "Now now Rukia. I know Ichigo is also a dick, but he's my dick. Also I happen to like his face the way it is."

The group collectively laughs at that, and Rukia pouts but concedes. He dusts himself off then throws a protective arm over my shoulder. I can almost feel Inoue's displeasure. "This kid's mine. I'm the only one allowed to kick his ass."

My cheeks flush red, while Rukia squeals in ill-concealed excitement. It's horrifying how enamored she is by us.

But also…it's comforting. Rukia knows so much about me, too much. She was my confidante for so long, and she knows what I've been through. She is simply happy to see me happy, and I shouldn't fault her for that.

And me, who genuinely lived life believing I didn't want to be loved…I had feared the idea of having to trust someone else. But somehow this goddamn blue-haired bastard made me realize I'm not as broken as I thought.

Grimmjow and I finally complete our goodbyes and part ways with the rest of the group. We walk side-by-side as we head back to his Tesla.

I grimace, hands deep in my pockets, reluctant to say the words on the tip of my tongue. "Okay Bluebird, I concede…" He turns to look at me, and I avidly avoid eye contact. "I now acknowledge Inoue may have a small crush on me."

From my periphery I see him become abruptly animated. "Fuckin' finally! I've known she's wanted a bite of my Strawberry since I fuckin' saw her at the movies. Bout time ya realized it." He shakes his head and grumbles. "I'm glad we went public with your friends, I already got enough competition to deal with…"

I chuckle, knowing he's referring to my customers at Rukongai. "I know I know, not much longer though Bluebird. One more month. You can make it that long."

"26 days," he corrected. "Not that I'm counting."

I put in my 30-day notice at Rukongai, officially ending my job there as a bartender. It paid the bills, it had its good days, but after everything that's happened…it's time for a fresh start.

We climb into his Tesla.

"Where to?" he asks excitedly.

Pantera is disbanded, and I have 4 days off before I have to go back to Rukongai (for 22 more days). We packed a bag and decided to hit the road.

I grin, "Anywhere Bluebird."

He grins back, his blue eyes brighter than I've ever seen them. He revs the engine and keeps one hand on the steering wheel, one hand tenderly grasping mine.

Yes, it's time for a fresh start. And with this Bluebird by my side the entire time.

XxXxXxXxX

At long last, I happily announce, this story is complete.

Thank you again to all who tuned in! I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. ^_^

Until next time!