For the past few weeks, Ichigo hadn't seen nor heard from Grimmjow. It was a sudden yet appreciated silence from both ends. After visiting the ring, he couldn't bring himself to even go back home. Personally, he was in a minor traumatised state from what he saw. He definitely knew that the man in the underground was Grimmjow. For the mean time, he had stayed over at Shinji's place, afraid to go back. Grimmjow never once called. Ichigo had decided to focus fully on the project with Shinji and Ishida. Thankfully, he had meetings and photoshoots to attend to every day. He had no time to think of the other man, he didn't want to.

He was alone at the office when Yoruichi called. It was most probably to check on him because he hadn't returned for a long time.

"Hey." He grunted into his phone as he was munching on a sandwich near the vending machine.

"Hey Ichi. You alright? Where you've been?" Yoruichi's soothing voice always calmed him. She was one of the very few people that he cared truly about and one who mutually felt the same as well. It was reassuring to talk to her.

"Oh I've been at Shinji's place. A lot of new projects and stuff."

"Cool. Are you coming back soon? I need to talk to you about something, it's uh... important," that was odd. Her tone suddenly sounded oddly serious.

"Yeah sure. How bout tonight? I'll come by your place."

Usually at this time of day, Ichigo would stop by Neliel's cafe to get some desserts. Even before he was avoiding Grimmjow, he would usually stop by to get some coffee. Thus, it was disconcerting that the shop was closed. Ichigo went towards the entrance for a closer look and realised that there was a shop notice.

/ Closed until owner returns. Sorry for the inconvenience!

- Neliel 18/7 /

The date that was referenced in the notice was exactly the day Ichigo went in the ring. His throat suddenly grew parched. Thousands of imagined situations rushed into his head and his pulse was racing. He took his phone out, scrolling through past messages and call logs to find if there were any missed ones by the either of the siblings. Knowing that there were none, his worry climbed tenfold. He was almost too tempted to call Grimmjow but he didn't. Discussing anything through phone wasn't ideal. He knew he would have to visit the other man the next day. He couldn't go there immediately, Ichigo needed more time to calm down before the storm.

Waiting at Yoruichi's door, it took him ten seconds before he decided to he knock on the damn door. When she opened it, for the first time in a long time she was actually wearing clothes. Naturally, the woman invited him in and he left all his stuff by the door. It was a comfortable silence as she brought out food to the couch. He noticed that her often well kept hair was now in a messy bun and unwashed clothes were strewn all over the place. When she arrived with the food, they ate quietly. Yoruichi didn't seem to want to make any conversations and frankly looked like she's just stressed out. There was tension in her shoulders. The prolonged silence suddenly grew extensively awkward but Ichigo didn't know how to break that. More like he was afraid to do so.

"You look really good Ichigo." Aaand silence is broken. The purple-haired beauty said as she munched into her pot-stickers.

"Can't say the same about you, Yor," he replied her compliment with his usual snarky comment. She snickered in response, eating the rest of her food.

"No, really. You look so much healthier. You even gained some weight. It's nice to see you looking all happy again Ichi," she said as she put down her food. They were sitting right next to each other and suddenly she leaned over to hug him. Her embrace was reassuring but he could feel the coiling hardness in her spine. She was holding something back. This wasn't normal and he didn't like it. He still had his arms around her waist as she was combing through his hair, studying his features. He, too, was studying her, unnerved by the worry that was laced in her features.

"Ichigo, do you know about the... underground fighting rings?"

Well, he didn't expect this particular change of subject. He replied as honestly as he could. That he did know about it albeit only recently. Continuing the conversation, Yoruichi asked what he did know. And in response, he described what he saw. Essentially, the place was the essence of the town's underground illegal work and the fighting rings was the core of it. He saw drugs being dealt and a lot of dirty money.

The woman listened carefully, nodding at everything he said. He didn't know whether he should be happy that she knew. There were still so many questions unanswered. He felt a little betrayed that she had held back on this but there was nothing to be angry about. He didn't know anything much of it until then; it was only when he realised that he man he's been sleeping wasn't really the man that he knew.

"So are you? Are you a part of this?" He asked as they resumed eating.

"I'd be lying to ya if I said I wasn't. But I'm not the same as those people, not a fighter"

She proceeded to tell him of Kenpachi as well; how he was a retired fighter who actually managed to "escape" the ring.

Ichigo drummed his fingers on the empty carton box.

"I think Grimmjow, uh, is a part of it as well." Yoruichi just stared at him.

"Since when did you know?" She replied as she took another bite. Almost nonchalantly telling him that she had apparently known all this while.

"Pretty recent. It was my first visit and I saw him in some white uniform." He could practically see the cogs in her head working.

"Ichigo, When I first saw him with you, I didn't want to believe it. On the second time, when I saw his bare body, I saw the tattoo and it was obvious. Since you know now," there was a long pause and she broke eye contact, " you should stay away from him." What?

"Is he that dangerous?" Ichigo muttered in question and Yoruichi just nodded.

Ichigo tried to recall the tattoos on his body. All of them were littered mostly on his arms and chest. There was an odd one out, particularly on his lower back. A huge 6. It was obvious she knew who he was.

"Who is he? Who is Grimmjow?"

"He's a killer, Ichigo."