Grimmjow looked around the small one bedroom apartment. It resembled something somewhere between a drug house and a ninety year old woman's underwear drawer, if that ninety year old woman hadn't bought new underwear in a couple of decades. It wasn't dirty. Nothing out of place but it was evident that the owner, or previous owners, hadn't taken care of anything at all. " You've been here this whole time?" He asked as he watched Ichigo pour two small glasses of whiskey in the small attached kitchen.

The red head hadn't realized the tall man was watching and quickly shot back his entire glass in one well practiced swing. He then pored another glass of the cheap liquor and made his way to sit on the couch beside Grimmjow. " I rented a bedroom for the first few months, but the owner got weird and touchy so I left." Ichigo took a large gulp of his drink where as Grimmjow hadn't toached his. " I guess I should have kept moving, maybe taken under the table jobs."

" Yeah, you probably should have, " Grimmjow took a sip before putting his glass on the small wooden coffee table. " It doesn't matter now though."

Ichigo looked into cobalt blue eyes. Something he had been avoiding doing again since the hallway. It was uncomfortable for him to look at the man since everything had happened. A lot that Grimmjow didn't know about. "What do you mean?" He gripped his glass hard, realizing what the older man ment. " I'm not going back with you, Grimm. I can't."

Grimmjow turned into Ichigo and cupped his face with one hand. Ichigo couldn't help himself when he flinched away at the sudden contact. Other than the embrace they shared in the hallway only a few moments before, Ichigo hadn't felt gentle human contact in years. He had delt with the occasionally gropes and smacks on his ass but nothing as warm and welcoming as Grimmjow was being.

He felt a pang of hurt in his chest when Ichigo pulled away. " I won't let anything happen to you. I promise. Come home with me and we can be together. For real this time." The feeling left when Grimmjow was successful when he went to cup Ichigo's face again. This time Ichigo closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.

"I want to Grimm. God only knows how much I want to be with you but I can't go back to that city. The Shinigami will never be alright with us being together. They might even use it as an excuse to start a turf war."

Grimmjow paused for what seemed like a long time before saying. "What if they don't know I have you?" Grimmjow grinned ear to ear like he had just figured out the meaning to life. " My penthouse is big enough that you won't feel cooped up and you'll neve want for anything. I'll give you anything you could ever want and the Shinigami will be none the wiser. You can just stay with me and everything will be alight. We'll, the Espada, will protect you no matter what."

Ichigo gave a deep sigh. "All I want is to be free Grimmjow. Hiding at your place for the rest of my life isn't free at all."

"And hiding in this shit hole is?" Grimmjow was frustrated now. All he wanted to do was pick his berry up and leave. Even if the smaller man had to be taken kicking and screaming. "They've found you once and they'll do it again Ichigo. Becoming an Espada is your best option."

Ichigo was on his feet then, looking down at Grimmjow with an angry scowl. "Who said anything about becoming an Espada? I can't betray my mom and dad like that!"

"I've told you before, Aizen wants you and becoming an Espada is your best bet."

"Yeah he wanted me because I was attractive. Because I was smart and good at kendo!" Ichigo was beyond frustrated. How dare he even suggest becoming a member of a gang other than the Shinigami? "Well in case you haven't noticed I'm none of those things anymore. I'm skinny and weak and I teach stupid kids basic math!" The sudden realisation of what his life had become smashed down on ichigo like heavy waves. He couldn't stop the tears from burning his eyes.

Grimmjow was on his feet, with his arms around Ichigo before the fist tear drops started to fall. "I still want you." He whispered into the smaller mans ear. Ichigo buried his face into Grimmjows chest for the second time that night and for the first time in years, Ichigo began to cry.

"I've lost everything because of them Grimm. I can't go back. Don't make me go back. l don't even feel like me anymore. I can't be anywhere near them."

Grimmjow squeezed Ichigo. He knew this wasn't a good time to ask nut the words came out like vomit. "What happened Ichigo? Why did you leave without saying good bye? What was so awful thuat you had to disappear?"

Ichigo tensed. He knew he was going to have to tell Grimmjow sooner or later but he was hoping that it was much later than this. All he could get out was " Kenpachi, he, he." He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence before the sobs shook threw his body.

Grimmjow didn't need to here the rest. He understood immediately. He could put it all together. Ichigo's entire demeanor had changed. He had walls up now. He took care of himself like it was an after thought and his slouched posture, the smoking and drinking. Something had to have happened and with the name Kenpachi involved he knew it had to be awful. " Did he hurt you?" Grimmjow felt a slow nod against his chest. "Ichigo… did he… take you?" A long pause before another slow nod.

Grimmjow Jaquerjaques was going to kill Zaraki Kenpachi if it was the last thing he did. He had had a hard enough time thinking about ichigo with Renji. Now that he knew someone, someone like Kenpachi, had taken his strawberry unwillingly all he wanted to do was yell and smash things in a uncontrollable rage. He didn't though. He knew this wasn't the time and place for it so he opted to just hold his love and hope that his security could make at least some of the pain go away.

" They know where you are Ichi." He said after a long while. " The safest place for you is with me. Let me bring you to Aizen and we'll make sure nothing happens to you."

Ichigo pulled away suddenly with force that Grimmjow didn't think he was still capable of. "They know where I am." He said in a panic as thought it had been the first time it had dawned on him. " I need to go. I'm sorry Grimm. I have to go." Ichigo was suddenly on the couch on all fours, digging between the cushions for something Grimmjow didn't know about. When Ichigo found his silver gun he quickly put it in the front of his pants and made his way to the door. Only stopping to grab his emergency bag that he was now thankful he had waiting for him. Grimmjow just stood watching the man, not quite understanding what was happening. It was like Ichigo had only herd half of what he had been trying to explain to him.

Ichigo paused and gave Grimmjow a quick glance. "I'm sorry Grimm. I love you." His hand now on the door knob, ready to leave.

To say Grimmjow panicked was an understatement. He wouldn't loose his berry again. He couldn't do it again after finally having him in his arms again. Without thinking, Grimmjow dashed to Ichigo and elbowed him on the side of the head with all the force he could muster.

Ichigo immediately fell to the floor unconscious.

Another chapter done! I'm thinking there will only be four or five more chapters to this story but I had originally only wanted to make this 7 chapters in total. I have another story that I want to write with Grimm and Ichi being the main characters but I really want to finish this first or I might loose my inspiration. I'll also be doing some one shots that are prequal/ spinoffs to this story…or I might just re-write this one to include more back story. Can you tell how indesisive I am? Anyway…tell me what you think!