A/N: So sorry folks, haven't abandoned you! Came down with some nastiness and have been sleeping for like the last week. Weak lungs, so nearly came down with walking pneumonia. But all is well now, and I'm back, give me some time to put my messy house back together and give my hubs some much needed attention, and there will be updates galore! For now, I'll give you some on this one.

Doctor's Training

Chapter Six

Consideration

Three weeks passed in quiet solitude. Well, somewhat quiet. The tentative young doctor needed time to come to terms with what they were saying, and also his own feelings toward them, and the new ideas running through his head. And sometimes there were some definite explosive incidents due to the doctor's unique nature. The first day after they had their "talk" he absolutely refused to come out of his room at all, frustrating the other three to no end and making them seriously consider that they might have ruined their chances. The problem was, none of them were patient. The fact they hadn't already took things past some light kissing and touching was a miracle. Of course, that didn't stop the interplay between the other three, quietly of course, and always when their doctor was asleep. But he wasn't ready to jump into bed with them, so they sated themselves otherwise. Shiro could be surprisingly quiet when he wanted to be, they found.

After the initial heady calming, the others found the only time their prospective sub would really tolerate them was when he came actively seeking one of them to hold him. This did happen a lot and it seemed there was no reason he picked whichever one of them he picked to soothe whatever anxiety had flared up that particular day. However, they noticed that his anxiety and obsessions were steadily increasing the longer he was secluded from the rest of the world. The first week, it had been maybe once a day, he'd drop into agitation. Then it slowly increased to at least three or four times a day. He had explained early on that it was removal from his routine, that he needed some kind of structure. So, doing what they could, they tried to provide for it.

It wasn't working though. More often than not they would find him thrumming hands against his thighs or whatever surface there was, and eventually he started having trouble avoiding snapping at them over small things. It was an incredibly good thing that his three housemates were patient and tolerant of him, if they were patient with nothing else. Shiro was the closest to exploding on the doctor, but even he knew that what was happening was beyond his control. Mostly he was annoyed at playing sub. While it amused him, and he enjoyed it, the reason he was a switch was because he liked both. And here, he was stuck in one position, and that, he didn't like.

So instead, he ended up curled on the couch or chair with one of them for hours of the day. Generally, whoever his snuggle partner, as they named it, was petting him gently, using pressure of their hands to force some relaxation on the poor man.

They finally requested some form of internet access. They were blanket banned from communications of all kinds, including email or anything that sent information from their system. At least though, the more determined of the three did some research. Shiro found himself engulfed in websites and surrounded by more information than he could have ever wanted about the doctor that was currently holed up in his room again. There were conflicting stories, and finally he came across a digitized copy of the biography that had been done on him. It took a couple days, but he'd read the thing all the way through. He sat and thought about how to approach the others because it was quite obvious without access to his obsession that of medicine and surgery, the kid was quickly unraveling.

"Renji, you ever look inta that book the kid had done?" Shiro asked, glancing up as the tattooed red head came in with a plate.

He shook his head, and Grimmjow too had come up beside him, eating a sandwich as he moved. "Nah, never got a copy a'fore we left to this place," he said with a huff. After three weeks, they were all feeling more than a little stir crazy. And still nothing on how much longer.

There was a hit out on all four of them, well, for the three of them, and an order to snag the young doctor. Shiro's boss, Yama, was attempting to negotiate with Aizen, but so far there had been no progress. Aizen was adamant that even if Shiro was one of Yama's highest, he was going to die for taking what was his. And that went for the two that accompanied him as well. Aizen was a greedy bastard, though. Luckily, the doctor's family wasn't targeted, perhaps more because only his father had remained in town, his sisters had both been sent to safety. And Aizen was too bent on finding and destroying those that took his prize. It was really quite sick, the way he saw him as a possession. And for that alone, Shiro would keep the man away from him.

But that left them in a predicament. He was steadily losing his grip, and who could blame him? Shiro had been looking up and discussing information they had come across from what they'd pieced together of their doctor (yes they already thought of him as their doctor) and had come to the conclusion that there were some very not good consequences of this. In their research the one thing they didn't like was mentions of self-injurious behaviors. Now, from what they saw, their doctor shouldn't be someone that did that. But this wasn't a normal situation. As they researched they realized that the recent events were just the thing to set triggers that their doctor might just do something drastic. Granted, unlike something like cutting, it didn't seem that he would likely be headed toward doing something to cause major damage…but it was still worrisome.

"So yeah, I guess people like him sometimes do self-injury when they get too far outta it," he said, eyes rolling up to Renji and Grimmjow who had just entered.

"Wha…like cutting?" Renji asked, frowning.

Shiro shook his head. "Nah, nothin' like that shit. Like to relieve tension, or deal with shit, or get clarity. Like, man, when he was a kid, he did it apparently. Like bashin' his head into the floor, and biting himself until he bled."

"Wow…that sucks. I really should read tha book, if we wanna keep this shit together," Renji said thoughtfully.

"What? Man, we ain't got anything yet. Three weeks and we're not much closer than we were, and fuck if I'm more smitten than I was," Grimmjow huffed, thinking about how his heard would beat out of his chest every time the doctor would come and snuggle next to him.

Between Renji and Shiro, Grimmjow had learned a lot about the lifestyle, and of course what it took to be a good master and take care of a pet. The fact that the total control issue was a huge turn on was a bonus. But it was different with Shiro. Shiro wasn't their pet, not really. He may have been a switch, but he was nowhere near what Grimmjow was realizing he really wanted in his life.

Shiro smiled. "I know, man, I want to hold him until he doesn't feel his own toes anymore."

Renji shook his head. "I have never, and I mean never, run into a sub like him that I wanted for more than a quick fuck. Man…this sucks. I mean, I've always got off on tha control, the pain, but this is so fuckin' different. I don't wanna take him as mine because of that. I really want to help him, and that's fuckin' weird man…"

Shiro grinned at him. "Five years and yer just now figuring out what yer really supposed to be doin'?"

"The fuck that mean, whitey?" Renji asked, crinkling his nose.

"Look, there are those that get off on pain, they whip and are whipped, and that's it. I like it, fuckin' pain turns me on faster than anything, but that's not the same as a real partnership or groupin'. It ain't just about havin' a steady partner. It's more intense, more like marriage," Shiro said, teeth worrying his lip as he remembered the first time he had this talk with a fellow dom right after he entered the lifestyle.

Grimmjow was intrigued. They'd discussed a lot, but not the dynamics in pairs, triads and groupings that were permanent. "I guess I'm not following."

Shiro grinned. "We have contracts, like I told ya before, but its more than that. You take yer sub because you want to help them, treat them like the most beautiful thing in the world…well at least, the master/pet relationship."

"Master/pet?" Grimmjow asked. "There's something beside that?"

Shiro smiled. "The way I was trained, there are two. Master/Pet and Master/Slave. Those that use the term pet are really more caring and pleasure centered, the slaves are more control and pain centered. I never liked the term slave, but pet I could get behind. Not everyone does it like this…I just think the difference is important, ya know? Treating someone like a precious pet rather than a slave."

"Precious pet," Renji murmured. "Oh gods that just sent all the fuckin' blood to my cock, can't think…"

Grimmjow snickered. "Damn, yer a hopeless pervert, Red."

Renji waggled a brow. "Fuck yes, and I still wanna lick 'im head to toe and back again…"

"Well, ain't never been tongue fucked by someone quite like you before, so I believe it," Shiro said giving Renji a wink.

"Okay so what do we do?" Grimmjow announced.

Shiro nodded. "Next time he's out we talk to him. Tell him our intentions."

"And what exactly is that gonna be?" Renji said, frowning. "I mean, okay, I wanna take care of him, make sure he's safe, and answer every fuckin' desire he ever had, but how I am I supposed to phrase it?"

"Say that, what about you, Grimmjow?" Shiro said.

Grimmjow thought. "I mean, fuck, from the moment I saw how fuckin' frazzeled he was, I wanted to help him. And then the whole Aizen shit, and I just wanna show him he can trust me completely."

Shiro nodded. "Then we make the contract after we negotiate if he wants to try it. We give him a consideration collar."

Grimmjow hadn't gotten to this point in instruction yet. "A what?"

Shiro smiled. "There are three. Consideration, training and final. Think promise ring, engagement ring, and wedding ring that vanillas use."

"The collar thing is a little…obvious in public for him though. I mean, he won't be able to wear something like that to work…" Renji said, thinking of those he'd been around who were collared.

"Red, it doesn't have to be a literal collar, at least not in public. A simple locket, pendant, chain, dog tags, whatever. I've seen all for public face. Remember, when we talk to him, he has to understand, we would have nothing to do with his profession. At all," Shiro said with a smile.

They heard a noise behind them and realized Ichigo had come from his room and was listening into their conversation. They had no idea how long he'd been there. He was watching them all very carefully. Shiro smiled and stood, pulling him towards the table to sit him down. He looked nervously around at all of them.

"But…why?" he said quietly.

He was met with three confused stares. "What do you mean?"
"Why would you want me, of all people, to be involved with you? You're all so much better and normal and…I'm not," he said, staring down at his hands that had already started thrumming against his thighs.

"Ichigo, because we just do. We all like you, and we all wanna help ya. And who the fuck wants normal, anyway?" Shiro said, giving him a sideways grin.

Ichigo was so confused. "I don't understand. I hear what you're saying but I don't get it. I mean, I still can't understand how I was so calm when there was a guy that planned on raping me. Why was I calm? Did it mean I wanted him to do it? Is that what I am? I mean, I didn't think…"

He started as he felt Grimmjow's arms fold around his waist and his chair scoot next to him. "Ichi, baby, no, not at all. You were calmed by being bound, does that make sense?"

Renji grinned then and nodded. "I'll be damned, Blue has certainly caught on."

"I don't understand…" Ichigo whispered. "And I understand everything but I don't understand this…"

Shiro smiled, moving forward and took his hand. "Ichi, look, what makes you feel the best in the world?"

He thought for a minute. "Being held really tight until I almost can't breathe."

"And why does it make you feel good?" Shiro continued.

"I don't know, it just makes me feel safe, secure, and everything melts away…" he said. "I…I don't have to think about who I am and what I'm doing…and there's…no expectations."

Renji and Shiro exchanged a look. "That's right. And what expectations are there on you?"

"I've got to have everything in hand. I have to be the best at what I do. I've got to know where I'm going and how to get there. I've got to make sure I remember my scripts and my checklists. I've got to remember every step in each procedure and I have to do it better than everyone else because if I don't someone else might die…" he stopped, eyes wide.

Grimmjow spoke now in his ear. "Who died that you couldn't save?"

Ichigo's mouth worked mutely for a moment. "K-kaien…"

"Who was that?" Grimmjow said, rubbing small circles into his shoulder blades.

"M-my cousin…" he said softly, getting a glance from the others. "I…I was three. I remember the smell of the hospital…and my pop crying and I couldn't understand…I just was so cold without him."

"Ichigo, your book didn't talk about that," Shiro said softly.

Ichigo shook his head. "I don't talk about him. He lived with us, we were born a year apart, he was older than me. He was like my big brother, and we shared a room. I snuck in his bed every night and he would hold me so close that I could sleep without thinking. His mom had left to travel, and we took him…and…and he had a brain tumor that they couldn't operate on. And…and now…I know I could have done it…if I'd been older, I could have done it and he'd have lived, and I can't…can't…"

Grimmjow quickly crushed him against him in a tight hug, his eyes rolling into his head and sighing deeply. "I can't hold on so much, so much…I hurt so much…"

"We want to help, if you will let us?" Shiro said, running a hand through his hair.

Ichigo was confused about a lot of things. But one thing that was startlingly clear, he wasn't confused when he was held by these people. These three had given him more in the last month than he'd felt in his whole life. He'd felt. They didn't flinch at his odd behaviors, or his outbursts. The accepted him for who he was. They let him do what he needed to do without chastising for not being nice enough, or saying the wrong things, or drumming his fingers so he could relax. No, in three weeks, he'd gotten more comfort and acceptance than he'd ever gotten, with absolutely no expectations of him. Maybe that was it. None of them expected him to be anything except himself.

"I…" he began. "I want to let go…just for a minute…let go and let you take it…I want…I want…"

"Ichigo, do you want to be taken care of?" Shiro asked quietly. "Do you want to let someone else have complete and total control?"

He looked up into those strange black and gold eyes and nodded slowly. Shiro smiled and kissed his forehead softly, heading into his bedroom and came back with a bag. He smiled at him, and then at the others.

"I have my own ways of doing this, but I've never been in a group. So this is something we all gotta agree on. But Ichi-pet, I wanna offer you this," he said, drawing out a thin, black strip of leather with a buckle in silver. "I wanna offer you this collar of consideration, and if ya like what happens, then we can take tha next step, okay? But this…this is for here."

He reached in the bag and removed four cuffs, all black leather and with buckles. "These I brought because we had thought of this before, and I had them pulled for us. We'd each wear one, to mark us as a group. The ring in this one," he said, lifting one of that had a silver circle dangling. "Is for you, like the physical one. Ya heard what I said, there's three stages. And this is tha first. If we go on, then we'll have new ones made for us all. And a training collar for ya."

Ichigo nodded. "But…isn't it weird for there to be three of you for me?"

Shiro nodded. "Nah, I'm a switch, so there will be days I'll be beside ya, and others I'll be master. And that's tha way I like it," he said with a nod. "But because of that, I don't wear a consideration collar. I may wear a training collar, depending on how we take it."

Ichigo fingered the leather cuff and collar. "Are you sure? I'm…I'm… I mean, I've never done anything like this…and I'm not experienced…"

There was a silence. "Wait," Renji said, frowning. "You mean, you've never…"

Ichigo nodded. "My first kiss was with you guys…" he said softly.

There was an exchange of looks. That was a different matter, and none of them were sure how to proceed. It was one thing to introduce someone into the world of bondage who had never been involved, but it was quite another to take a virgin into that world. The experience was often intense and none were really sure that taking someone with no sexual experience into something considered so deviant by a majority of the world was a good idea.

"Um, Ichi, I mean, then maybe we shouldn't do this, if you've never been with someone, this might be too much for you at first, and…" Shiro said, reaching for the items from the orange haired doctor. "What we do gets intense, and I've never had…"

Ichigo stopped his hand. "No, I think…I think this might be what I need."

"But, Ichi, if you've never even had sex, how do you know…" Grimmjow said from beside him.

"Just because I haven't had sex doesn't mean I don't understand it. I knew about sex from the age of nine when I started studying advanced biology, and even more at ten when I was studying human sexuality. And I understand the basic concepts of what you're talking about, it was listed in the books I've studied under sexual deviancy," he said clinically.

There was a flinch from the three males. He looked at them with a smile. "It isn't anymore, you know, they took it out this year finally. It wasn't that long that homosexuality was also listed there. So I know, but I never thought about it…I mean really even thought about sex…but it might feel nice."

Shiro smiled and picked up the thin leather collar. He leaned over and smiled. "So, doctor, will you accept our collar of consideration?"

He smiled softly. "I will, I will accept the collar if you will accept me as I am, and not ask me to be what I cannot," he said, looking between them all.

"Never once," Grimmjow said beside him, tightening his grip around the thinner man's waist. "Never once."

Shiro smiled and buckled the soft leather gently around his neck and sat back with a grin, deftly buckling the cuff to his left wrist, followed by the other three. Since they'd already considered making a grouping on a permanent basis, they had discussed their roles in the grouping, but now the dynamics would change drastically.

"Now, Ichi-pet, you've got to help with something," Shiro said seriously, reaching behind him and pulling out a folder from the counter. "We aren't making a permanent contract yet, but this just will be the limiting contract to start with. We need you to look through this list and decided what you want to do, what you might like, what you aren't sure about, and what you refuse outright. Anything you set as a hard limit can't be done, no matter what, by any of us, okay?"

He passed him a stapled set of papers and a pen. Ichigo glanced down them, eyes widening as he scanned it. "Who does that?" he muttered, brows furrowing. "Or…people do that?"

He looked up to see the amused grins. "Everything on there is a fetish or something that we could do in our times together. We have to know what your limits are so we don't do something you really don't want. This is where we play out scenes of non-consent sometimes, and sometimes no means yes. Unless you really, truly mean no. And that's what this is for."

Ichigo frowned. "I don't get the no means yes."

Shiro nodded. "Take me. I love pain, I mean, fuckin' love to have my ass whipped until I'm bleeding. But half the fun is screaming and yelling no, and writhing in the bindings as the feelings wash over me."

Ichigo nodded. "Okay, I see…I see…Kind of like when I was tied up and felt okay, even when he was…doing that to me…"

Shiro nodded. "Yes, so like here. Some people like watersports. A lot of people don't."

"Watersports?" he said staring at that block. "What's that?"

Renji sighed. "You are really naïve sometimes, kid," he said. "Piss. Being peed on, peeing on someone…moyashi, that sort of stuff."

Ichigo's eyes widened. "Yeah, don't like that at all, I'm doctor and I know it's sterile, but ah, yeah, no."

"Then that's a hard limit. Put that there on the watersports box. And any of the others that ya absolutely have no interest in. Soft limits ya are maybe willing to try, and if ya do, we'd make srue there's a safe word or safe signal if yer gagged," Shiro said, smiling.

Ichigo nodded, reaching up to finger the leather on his neck with an absent smile as he worked through the pages. He would comment now and then with disgust or interest. The three watched him work slowly. When he was done he nodded to Shiro.

"Um, now what?" he said, glancing around nervously.

Shiro put a hand on him. "We're not going to tie you up and fuck ya just because you've taken the consideration collar. Now, we spend some time getting to know you. You've taken three weeks to get this far, we're not going to force ya into sex especially since you've never done it. And besides, this isn't really where I foresee concreting a bond…"

Ichigo smiled. "Okay, I can do that."

Shiro smiled. "Today, I think should be for you and me, since we've been talkin'. We'll let Red and Blue go play in the bedroom, and we'll have dinner and watch something on tha TV together." Shiro paused, seeing the look. "I know yer not switches, go suck each other off, or somethin'."

Both men blushed a bit and escaped the room. It was easy to see how Shiro could be a dom. He looked down at Ichigo.

"In this stage, you don't have to do anything, okay? No master or anything. But I do like callin' ya Ichi-pet if that's okay," he said smiling softly.

Ichigo nodded. "I think that's okay."

Shiro smiled, and the pair went about talking about their lives as they fixed dinner together, giving Grimmjow and Renji food when they were done. After their dinner, they watched a movie and fell asleep against each other on the couch. The next two weeks of their confinement, saw them repeating the actions. Dinner, movies, and games spent together in various groups of two, three and four. And by the end, Ichigo felt something blooming inside him that he'd never felt before. It felt warm, and comfortable, and gave him these nervous bubbles in his stomach he'd never felt before. And, he realized, for the first time in his life, he was actually aroused by someone enough to feel heat pooling in the bottom of his stomach at their voices and touch. Because, to say that Ichigo Kurosaki, greatest neurosurgeon in the world currently, published researcher in the subject of brain tissue regrowth, and man with the highest IQ on record in his hospital and school…was more than just inexperienced. He had no experience. Even with himself.