Renji awoke with a start, his arms protectively curled around the now deeply sleeping orange haired man. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and glanced at his watch. Half past six in the morning. He looked down to the bundle in his arms. The fury and anger was gone from the brows and he wondered how long it had been since he'd sleep soundly like this, completely unbound and without fear of being hurt by someone.
Why was he here though if he wasn't willing? He knew that there were illegal brothels where they kidnapped and basically enslaved men and women, but this place wasn't one of them. The rest of the people here seemed happy enough. So why this one young man? He reached down and gently ran a hand through his wild orange hair. He'd never seen someone with this color hair before, at least not naturally this color. He'd thought it was some sort of bleach and dye, but no, it was his natural color.
He pushed down the bile that rose in his throat at what he'd done. He'd actually raped someone. The thought made him sick almost to the point of throwing up. He was no stranger to sex, both with men and women, but he'd never made someone do anything they didn't want to do. And he'd been fooled into doing just that. A fury that matched his red hair rose in his throat. He wasn't going to let this go easily. But what could he do? He'd have to ask his brother. Maybe he would know. But if he woke up and Renji was gone, what if he tried to run? Wouldn't he get in trouble?
He sighed and grabbed the upper ropes and secured them to his sleeping wrists. He whispered how sorry he was, and pulling on his clothes headed out the door. He had to figure out what the hell was going on in this crazy place.
He knocked softly on the door next to his and found himself once again staring at the green haired beauty, totally nude. He kept his eyes on her face, though, resisting the urge to stare at the gorgeous figure the woman cut.
"I need to see my brother," he said tightly. From inside he heard a groan.
"Fuck, dude, go away, I just now laid down to actually sleep instead of fuck…" his brother groaned again.
Renji frowned. "Now."
The simple word had enough impact to set his older brother upright in bed, and scrambling for pants. Renji rarely got angry, in fact, his brother got angry enough for both of them. However, when Renji's anger did manage to bubble over, people ended up hospitalized. Unfortunately for his elder brother, Grimmjow had indeed been on the receiving end once of that violence, and he preferred not to repeat it. Renji's anger was a quiet thing, just like the tone in his voice right that second. And memories of having five broken ribs and a broken jaw surfacing in Grimmjow's mind only sped him on to comply with his brother's request, no demand. And when he demanded, even Grimmjow listened. Perhaps because in his entire life, Grimmjow had heard that three times. Once when they were kids when they stood up to their abusive father. Once when they were older and Renji stepped in on behalf of a bullied kid. And once when as adults Grimmjow had finally pushed his brother too far. And this made the fourth time. This meant serious shit.
"Nel, I'll be back, you stay here," he said, leaving the confused woman behind.
Renji was standing in the door of his room, arms folded, staring at the sleeping orange haired boy now. Grimmjow could practically feel the heat roiling off his brother.
He stuffed hands in his pockets and took a breath, hoping to fuck he wasn't pissed at him, because for the life of him he didn't remember doing anything to warrant this kind of reaction from his normally docile younger brother.
"What's going on?" he said softly, and Renji motioned him into the room. The orange haired boy was laid out on the bed still, covered up, but with his hands still shackled over his head.
Renji went over and undid the bindings very carefully, trying to not wake him as he did it. He snorted in his sleep and rolled over, hugging the pillows to him.
"This is what's wrong," he said pointing to the boy in the bed.
Grimmjow was confused. "You didn't enjoy…"
Before he knew it Grimmjow was on the ground, his younger brother's face inches from his own, deep cherry red eyes burning into his own cyan ones. He took a breath.
"You brought me to this place. You swear that this is legit. And you convince me this boy is acting. And then I end up fucking raping him. What do you thing is wrong with this?" Renji's voice was barely above a whisper, filled with barely contained rage.
Grimmjow floundered. "What the hell do you mean? He works here, he's supposed to…"
"Grimmjow, look at him. Really fucking look at him," he said tightly, standing up and letting his brother collect himself.
The bluenette frowned but went over to the sleeping boy. At first he didn't notice anything other than an orange haired boy Lolita. Just what he was supposed to be, soft, sweet and innocent looking. Renji yanked up the cover though and Grimmjow's breath caught. His wrists and ankles were both scarred heavily, as though he spent more time in shackles than out of them. All along his side that was facing him were old, jagged scars, glistening white against his soft peach skin. Bruises littered the boy's hips, thighs and buttocks, some green, some gray and a few deeper purple shading to red. He rolled in his fitful sleep onto his back, and Grimmjow frowned, staring at his pelvic area. Looking closer, he received a smack and a curious look from Renji.
Grimmjow shook his head and pointed to the boy's pelvis. Right near the base of his cock were distinct needle marks. There was only one reason the two brothers could think of to give someone an injection there.
Renji frowned. "Holy fuck," he whispered. "That explains why he was hard as a rock. I believed he was into it so I didn't stop after you told me that it was an act."
Both men retreated away to the other side of the room. Grimmjow frowned and looked at his brother. "Stay here, Imma talk to Nel."
Renji flopped himself into the lounge chair, the only sound his own breathing and the soft sounds that the boy made from the bed. He rolled and nearly tossed the covers off several times, apparently enjoying his freedom to sleep in any position he wanted.
After a few moments Grimmjow came back in, his jaw tight and stared at the boy. He flopped down beside his brother.
"She tried to deny it, swearing that he liked to be treated that way, liked the abuse, that he got off on it, and then I mentioned the injections and she just paled, realizing that all the excuses in the world weren't going to help right then. Ren, I've never see her cry. I've been visiting her for almost two years, but she begged me to get him out of here," he said, shaking his head.
Renji frowned. "But how, this place is legal, right? How is he being forced into it?"
"He was forced into signing a contract about nine years ago, before he was even ten years old. Apparently, his dad owed some major money to some big time gangster, so he decided to sell his son," Grimmjow said sighing.
"What?" Renji glanced over at the boy. "How can a kid sign a brothel contract?"
Grimmjow sighed. "Loopholes. He and his father both signed, and then when he turned nineteen, they came and took him to work here. He's been here for the last three months."
"How much is his contract?" Renji asked.
"Ten years or two hundred thousand," Grimmjow said softly.
Renji flopped back into the back of the lounge. "Holy fuck," he muttered. "He's gonna kill someone if they aren't careful."
The two brilliantly colored brothers sat and thought for a long while. Renji glanced at his watch, almost eight. He couldn't leave this kid here, he in no way deserved this. A stupid loophole in the laws was allowing this travesty to take place. Finally Grimmjow stood up.
"I'm gonna talk to Shiba. Maybe we can transfer the contract or something," he said.
"But I can't buy that out!" Renji protested.
Grimmjow nodded. "Yeah, I know, but there are other ways, like your services rendered can count toward the cost. And I can try and pull some strings."
Renji watched his brother leave with a sigh. Would they be able to help him? He felt despicable after what had happened, pleasurable as it had been. He couldn't believe this. But then, another voice reminded him, if he had picked anyone else, he wouldn't be able to help him now. And he intended to help him, even if it meant running away and running for the rest of their lives. No one deserved to be forced into this life like that.
He went over to the bed and lay down beside him and watched his fitful sleep. It seemed like he could watch him forever without moving. Then the boy's eyes flew open, realizing suddenly that he was being watched in his sleep, and he went into complete fight or flight mode, scrambling off the bed, still nude and trying to figure out how to get past Renji to the door and out.
"Ichigo, please, stop," Renji said quietly, getting up to move toward him.
"Fuck you, stay away from me!" he snarled "You had your fun last night, you're not getting near me again."
"I untied you, Ichigo, please, think about it."
The orange haired boy looked around franticly as if just now realizing that his arms and legs were free. He stared down, almost in disbelief at this simple fact and suddenly his legs couldn't hold him as he fell to his knees. Renji was there in a second, kneeling beside him. He looked up, fear and confusion running rampant across his face.
"My legs are weak," he said in way of apology. "I think that's the first time I've really stood up alone for the last three months."
Renji smiled, brushing a hand across his sweaty forehead. "Hey, it's okay. My brother and I, we're trying to figure out what to do to help you out of this mess yer in."
He fixed the redhead with a hot stare. "Why would you do that? Aren't I just another fuckin' whore like the rest of them here?"
Renji helped him stand and guided him back to the bed. "No, you certainly are not. Look, I'm so sorry about what I did last night. I am beside myself and sick now that I know you were not a willing participant. I do not do such things, you understand, and after what I've done, I will not let things lie as they are now."
Ichigo looked up at him and for the first time felt a small flicker of hope in the long last three months since the overly large man had shown up at the doorstep, and his father had hid his shame as he was dragged away from his family.
The door opened, and a smiling Grimmjow came in holding up a piece of paper. "Okay, it isn't ideal, but Madam Shiba is allowing him to be on extended assignment to you Renji."
Renji frowned. "Extended assignment?"
"The good little whores who attract the attention of the wealthy sometimes are loaned out for days, weeks, or months. They get paid a shitload of money to loan out a whore," Ichigo said bitterly. "I refused every fucker that tried to take me for more than a night. Last time I had to be put in the darkroom for a week because I ruptured the guy's testicle."
Renji looked at Grimmjow, choosing to ignore the violent streak in the seemingly innocent looking man beside him. "So how'd we manage this?"
"She said if you do the tattoos, and come do any other tattooing they need over the next three months, she'll give you the extended assignment legally. Since Ichigo's contract is solid, legally, we either have to wait out the ten years, or come up with two hundred grand. So until one of those happens, you keep doing whatever Madam Shiba asks with yer inks, and she keeps renewing these extended assignments every three months for ya," he said with a grin.
Renji looked at him, his face fallen now to know there was no other option than to remain a whore like this. He hated it. He hated himself. And he hated his father even more.
"So instead of being a whore for whoever comes along, I end up being your personal whore," he said tightly.
Renji smacked him soundly upside the back of the head, earning an incredulous look from the younger man. "Stop fuckin' calling yourself a whore. I despise that word."
Ichigo frowned. "Whatever, master."
The word cut Renji to the core. He could only imagine how humiliating this was for him. "I'm not gonna be yer fuckin' master. And if you don't want me to help you, stay here. I'm giving you the chance to get out. You come with me, you're an equal. The only time you'll even think otherwise is when we're in public and we both have to act the part of master and…and…you, and every moment I will despise it and keep trying to find a way to get you out of the damn mess your father put you in."
They exchanged heated looks for a minute before the orange haired man sighed. "Fine, it's better than being groped by fat, dickless slobs every night."
The papers signed by both of them, Grimmjow took them back and Renji smiled for the first time since this whole thing started. But as Grimmjow returned with a bag, his smile faded. He forgot the requirements for someone like Ichigo to go out in public. His shame would be for all to see, and there was nothing Renji could do about it because to defy the law would end them both up in prison.
"I'm sorry, I'll get you some good clothes to wear at home, I promise," Renji said, handing the bag to the boy. He frowned, already knowing what was in the bag.
Grimmjow then handed him the electronic collar that he was required to wear outside the brothel. He was, technically, property of Madam Shiba until his contract was completed.
Ichigo returned looking annoyed as he yanked down on the scant clothing he had been given. He'd been given the "uniform" of the brothel. It wasn't much, however. It consisted of a black mesh t-shirt with solid black sleeves on it that fell to just above his belly button and a pair of red shorts that sat very low on his hips, and fell halfway to his knees. He rolled his eyes as Grimmjow snapped the collar around his neck. It was black, and had a place on each side to hook a restraint onto it. A pair of similar cuffs and anklets were attacked, also black, and all with the emblem of the place on them. The collar, cuffs, and anklets were not to be removed, and in fact, only the madam could remove them. No matter what he wore, at least one had to remain clearly visible. The penalty would be revocation of the new contract they made with Shiba.
"Okay, Ichigo, are you ready to leave this hellhole?" Renji asked, trying his best to smile for him.
He instead sighed, not really trusting that where he was going was any better but he nodded. What choice did he have?