'You zshouldn't be here,' Grimmjow murmured. He stared up at the ceiling, his heart hammering loudly against his ribcage. He shifted slightly on his bed so that the back of his hand touched Ichigo's hip, who was lying right next to him.

'But I want to be,' Ichigo answered quietly as his own hand lay over Grimmjow's so that he too was touching the boy's hip. Grimmjow inhaled sharply as he felt Ichigo touch him, the very touch making his senses skyrocket.

'Vater'z going to be back zoon,' he continued in a low voice but now, it was tinged with fear. Fear for Ichigo's safety. 'He'z not going to be happy zeeing you here.'

Ichigo tensed for a second before linking hands with Grimmjow and tightening the hold. He turned his head to smile gently at the boy.

'I'm not going anywhere,' he said softly. Grimmjow's eyes widened a bit before he too relaxed and scooted closer to the orange-haired boy.

'Thiz remindz me of those English dramaz,' Grimmjow laughed weakly. Both boys were now lying on their sides facing each other on Grimmjow's bed. Their hands were still entwined. 'Vhere two people love each other very much but their familiez don't like it. So they run avay together.'

Ichigo was silent as Grimmjow talked and simply traced his lover's face with his free hand before brushing stray blue strands from his face. Grimmjow felt like fireworks had erupted in the pit of his stomach.

'We could do that,' Ichigo murmured thoughtlessly. Grimmjow's eyes widened. Ichigo realized what he had said and began babbling. 'I mean…if YOU want to too! I mean, I won't force you to do anything! You know I won't! your happiness is my happiness! So if you want to run away then that's just fine by-!'

Grimmjow chuckled and placed a hand over Ichigo's mouth to silence him. He smirked.

'You talk too much,' he teased. Ichigo scowled. But that disappeared as Grimmjow leaned in, removing his hand, and kissed Ichigo sweetly on his lips. Grimmjow's eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his body up against the boy's.

Without breaking the kiss he climbed on top of Ichigo, straddling his hips, and ran his hands through those soft vermillion locks till he had a good grip in them. Ichigo moaned slightly into the kiss and gripped Grimmjow's legs tightly while moving his hips suggestively against the German's. They both knew they were getting aroused. Should they do it? Was the time right? Who should go first? Who should top? Who should bottom?

Grimmjow jumped when he felt Ichigo's tongue lick his lower lip. Without hesitation, he parted his lips, allowing the boy below him to trace the inside of his mouth while at the same time wrestling with Grimmjow's own tongue for dominance.

So many questions spiraled through Grimmjow's but the only thing he could feel was a hard shaft nudging against his own slowly stiffening member. Grimmjow tried not to smirk too much. He loved this effect he had on the boy. He didn't want anyone else to have that effect on Ichigo but him. Ichigo was his and he was Ichigo's.

The minute Grimmjow had opened his door, Ichigo hadn't let go of him. As he had narrated what had happened last night, Ichigo would either hold his hand or hug him or kiss his forehead to comfort him and prevent him from crying again. He really needed that. He didn't know how Ichigo knew he wanted that but he was glad Ichigo just knew. That was the great thing about Ichigo. He just knew Grimmjow. They'd barely known each other yet Ichigo knew everything that was needed to make him happy, to make him smile, to make him feel like the world was worth living in. For a minute, he really did wish they could run away together. He really didn't need anything. Just…Ichigo…

SLAM!

The sound of a door closing echoed in the apartment, making both boys jump and break the kiss. For a moment both lay still, Grimmjow still on top of Ichigo and Ichigo's hands still on Grimmjow's hips. They both knew who it was but they were too afraid to move.

'Grimmjow, I'm home! Where are you, mein Sohn?' came the preppy voice of Aizen.

'Did you call Izshin?' Grimmjow murmured from the corner of his mouth. Ichigo nodded but both boys couldn't take their eyes off the closed door of Grimmjow's room.

Grimmjow let out a shuddering breath and glanced down at Ichigo. His body was quivering again and this startled Ichigo. The boy placed a comforting hand on Grimmjow's face.

'Ichi, I'm zcared,' Grimmjow whispered. Ichigo managed a small encouraging smile.

'Isshin said he called the welfare,' he murmured back. 'Don't worry, they'll be here soon. Just act normal. I'll stay in here, 'kay?'

This wasn't right. It wasn't safe. Now that Grimmjow realized his Vater was unstable, he didn't like having Ichigo in his home. Aizen might start acting abnormal again. And that was a scary thought.

Grimmjow licked his lips nervously and detached himself from Ichigo but not before he kissed the boy's hand affectionately. He smiled at Ichigo's surprised face and hurried out of the room, closing it quietly.

He just hoped Ichigo won't try anything stupid.

He put on a fake smile and scrambled into Aizen's arms, burying his face in his chest while wrapping his arms around his Vater's broad waist. Aizen squawked in surprise but then chuckled as he gently patted his son's head. Like nothing had ever changed.

'Well, I see I was sorely missed!' the man remarked and pulled Grimmjow into a tight hug.

Grimmjow could feel his heart racing. This was so, so dangerous right now. He was walking on thin ice and he needed to be very, very careful. Ichigo's life was at stake.

'Of course I missed you, Vater,' Grimmjow said quietly. 'I've been thinking about what you said to me and I wanted to apologize for acting like that towards you. You don't deserve it and I…' he licked his lips in hesitation, '…I love you.'

Aizen inhaled sharply before drawing Grimmjow even closer to him.

'I'm glad you finally understand, mein Sohn,' he whispered lovingly and kissed Grimmjow's head. Grimmjow tried hard not to flinch. 'So what shall we do today? I was thinking we could play a game of scrabble or maybe snakes and ladders!'

Grimmjow swallowed dryly as he thought of Ichigo all holed up in his room. He needed to come up with a way to sneak him out. Otherwise Aizen would start suspecting why he was on edge.

'That sounds great, Vater!' Grimmjow answered in a rather overenthusiastic tone and then fixed Aizen with an innocent look. 'But we're all out of those really delicious chips you got last week and I really want to eat them! Do you think we can go and get them right now?'

Aizen frowned.

'Grimmjow, I don't want you to spoil your appetite before we have our meal!' he exclaimed.

'Please, Vater! Please!' Grimmjow coaxed and tugged at Aizen's jacket earnestly.

Please, take the bait…

Aizen stared blankly at him for a second before finally smiling and kissing his head again.

'Whatever you want, mein Sohn,' he murmured. 'Go grab your jacket and we'll go.'

As Grimmjow said a silent prayer, he nodded with a genuine smile for once and rushed back to his room to grab his coat. And to explain the plan to Ichigo.

'Once ve leave,' he explained in a low voice as he slipped his jacket on. 'You get out and go to your home. Okay?'

'Will you be okay?' Ichigo whispered back and suddenly grabbed Grimmjow's hand. The boy was shaking as badly as Grimmjow. To comfort him, Grimmjow placed his free hand over Ichigo's.

'Don't vorry about me,' he answered softly and leaned forward to kiss Ichigo's lips gently. 'I'll be fine. I juzt hope you vill be okay.'

Ichigo nodded reassuringly and released Grimmjow's hand reluctantly. Ichigo was still shaking. Grimmjow hated that he couldn't do anything.

He glanced down at the angry red marks that had failed to fade away from his wrists.

He was just as helpless.

'I'm ready!' Grimmjow exclaimed as he bounced up to Aizen and beamed as happily as he could. Really, all this pretending was making him sick.

Aizen smiled back at him before raising his eyebrows and shaking his head.

'Grimmjow, what have we said about your hair again?' he said critically and ran his fingers through Grimmjow's hair. Grimmjow was about to open his mouth to argue when he froze. This was just like last time. And last time, Aizen had almost…

'Vater, it's going to get late then!' Grimmjow said hastily and pushed Aizen's hand away. But the large man just tutted, thinking Grimmjow was only acting like a teenager as always and grabbed his wrist to pull him closer. The feeling of dread he had been trying to suppress suddenly flared.

'Grimmjow, I'm not going to let mein Sohn walk out looking like a girl,' Aizen mused and held Grimmjow firmly in one place with one hand and used the other to comb through the boy's hair.

Grimmjow gritted his teeth and balled his hands into fists. If he was lucky, Aizen might not try anything. He just couldn't bear the thought of Ichigo watching this happen to him. It would literally tear both boys apart.

Once Aizen was done pulling out the knots, he started massaging the back of Grimmjow's neck. Grimmjow tensed.

'You're done now. So let me go,' Grimmjow thought desperately and attempted to pull away to show his Vater to stop but Aizen merely tightened his grip on his shoulder. Grimmjow's heart fluttered fearfully as Aizen tilted his face upwards.

'No, no, no, no,' he chanted in fear, his eyes watching Aizen's curious ones as they raked his body. He felt so dirty when he did that. He felt so unclean and he wanted it to stop. He wanted Aizen to stop looking at him like that. It…it wasn't right…

'Vater,' Grimmjow finally managed to utter and placed a hand on Aizen's chest to pull away. 'Not…now…'

'Hmmm,' Aizen merely rumbled as he continued to press closer, like he was in a trance. He was now bringing his face closer. Grimmjow felt his heart sink. He wasn't listening. He'd never listened. He was going to do this even if he screamed. Well, if he was going to be stubborn then so was Grimmjow.

'Vater!' Grimmjow said sharply and pushed Aizen away forcefully. That action caught Aizen by surprise and he stumbled backwards, a look of shock written across his face. Grimmjow scowled.

'Stop it!' he snapped. 'You're my Vater, you're not supposed to do this to me! You're supposed to…you're supposed to take care of me! Not…not treat me like a…like a…'

'Like what, Grimmjow?' Aizen said coldly, his eyes narrowing. He had overcome his shock and resumed that same air he had the previous day. The one that literally scared the shit out of Grimmjow. Just like right now.

Grimmjow gulped in fear and staggered back. This wasn't good. He'd pushed it too far. But then, if he hadn't, how far would Aizen have gone before he stopped?

He couldn't let Aizen treat him like that. Not with Ichigo watching. It was like having Ichigo see everything made him realize just how wrong it was and how he needed to step up if he wanted it to stop. But seeing Aizen like this was downright terrifying. He literally wanted to disappear more than anything.

'I treat you like what, Grimmjow?' Aizen repeated more sharply as he inched even closer to the boy. Grimmjow cast his eyes to the floor. The piercing gaze of Aizen's was ripping a hole in him. 'Like a toy? A whore? What, Grimmjow?'

His eyes widened and his body stiffened. Vater's tone was getting edgier and it was scaring Grimmjow. He didn't dare look up. How could his Vater talk to him like that?

'Well, in my opinion, Grimmjow, I treat you just fine. In fact, if I did treat you how you think I do, I'd have the right to do this.'

SLAP!

One minute, he was standing and the next, Grimmjow was on the floor with tears pricking his eyes from the pain throbbing across his now reddened cheek.

Vater had just slapped him. Vater had never hit him before. Why…why…

'But I don't treat you like that, do I, Grimmjow?' Aizen said in his sickeningly sweet voice as he bent down beside Grimmjow and placed a gentle hand on his head. 'I love you, hug you and kiss you every chance I get. (He tightened his grip in Grimmjow's locks, making the boy squeak helplessly) Why do you still think that it's wrong for me to love my son?'

Grimmjow wanted to cry again. He wanted to give up. He wanted this to stop. He just wanted to be left alone and never, ever have to face this again-

'STOP IT!'

Both father and son glanced up in shock to see a fiery orange-headed boy with a scowl across his face standing before them. Grimmjow sat bolt upright, his heart hammering away harder than it ever had throughout this situation.

What the hell did Ichigo think he was doing?

He couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't just pretend that he wasn't in that apartment watching a father abuse his own son like that. It was inhuman. Not just on Aizen's part but on his as well. How could he watch the boy he cared about be treated like that? He just…he just couldn't stand it anymore…

'Just stop it!' Ichigo trembled, more from emotion than fright. He balled his hands into fists, anger coursing furiously through his veins. 'You don't have the right to treat him like that! He's your son! He's not…he's not someone you can just use for whatever you want! He has his own thoughts and-!'

'How did you get in here?' Aizen interrupted in a low voice. The shock had passed and now, his face was impassive. Which was worse than actually having an emotion on one's face.

Ichigo gulped nervously and just glanced at Grimmjow. The German boy looked so lost and frightened it scared Ichigo. Grimmjow wasn't even looking at him but concentrating hard on the ground.

Ichigo's mind began spinning. Should he tell the truth? Or should he just stay quiet? What would be the right thing to do? What would Grimmjow want him to do? He didn't want Grimmjow to get into anymore trouble. So…what should he do?

'Say something, Grimmjow!' Ichigo thought desperately. 'Nothing is ever going to change unless you stand up to him!'

But the boy continued to sit motionless in the shadow of his father.

'Hast du ihn reingelassen?' Aizen demanded roughly as he turned on Grimmjow. The boy flinched visibly and if it was even possible, sunk his head even lower to hide his face.

Finally, he nodded and mumbled something back in German. Aizen's eyes narrowed and he turned to Ichigo. The look in his eyes was so scary Ichigo had half a mind to rush back into Grimmjow's room and lock himself in.

'He's telling me that none of this is your fault,' Aizen said icily. 'I don't exactly take his word on it. My Sohn was perfectly fine until he met you. I hope you know what you've done to my family, boy. I would prefer it if you stay away from Grimmjow. If you don't, I'll have to tell your mother.'

Ichigo felt like punching him. How dare he get his mother involved? She already had enough problems on her hands and now he was threatening to tattle on him to add to her worries? And if she knew the whole story, she would be proud of what Ichigo was doing! In fact, she'd give Aizen Sousuke a piece of her mind!

'This had nothing to do with me and you know it! It's you who has changed your son!' Ichigo suddenly snapped.

There was a shocked silence. Even Ichigo couldn't believe what he had just said. But now was not the time to hesitate. He wasn't going to sit by and watch Grimmjow be pulled even deeper into this dark world. He was finally going to step up and be Grimmjow's savior.

'I know what you do to him and I know why you moved here!' Ichigo continued, the quivering gone from his voice. 'It's sick and you know it but you don't even try to stop! You don't even think what it might be doing to him!'

'That's enough,' Aizen said delicately but Ichigo refused to listen. He was done listening to this bastard's bullshit. It's time he heard the truth himself.

'You don't love him so stop lying!' Ichigo was practically shouting now. 'If you loved him you'd stop hurting him like that! All you care is what you want and what you think is best! This isn't what Grimmjow wants but you don't care, do you?'

'Grimmjow, sag deinem dummen Freund, er soll die Klappe halten!' Aizen hissed furiously at Grimmjow, his eyes gleaming with malice. Grimmjow inhaled sharply and looked at Ichigo with pleading eyes.

'Ichigo, pleaze, esztop,' he whispered. 'I can handle thiz. Juzt…go home.'

Ichigo couldn't believe his ears. Here he was, standing up for Grimmjow, and the boy was telling him to stop? What the hell was going on?

Then, everything became clear.

'You can't stand up to him, can you?' Ichigo murmured. 'You're afraid to. He's made you afraid.'

'I've done nothing of the sort,' Aizen suddenly snapped and stepped in front of Grimmjow to block him from Ichigo's view. 'Leave. You are not welcome here.'

But Ichigo ignored him and continued to talk to Grimmjow.

'You can't let him do that to you, Grimmjow!' Ichigo urged him, hoping to could reach into Grimmjow's wrecked soul somehow. 'You can't let him control you like this!'

'Stop feeding my son your disgusting ideas!' Aizen raised his voice, as if trying to drown out Ichigo. But Ichigo was too focused on Grimmjow. The boy was still sitting motionless on the floor as if lost.

'You need to stand up…'

'I said shut up!' Aizen strode closer.

'…to him! If you don't…'

'Didn't you hear me?' He was getting closer.

'…he'll…'

'I said-!'

'…keep…'

'Shut-!'

'…hurting…'

'Up!'

'…you-urk!'

Aizen had suddenly wrapped his hands around Ichigo's neck, blocking his air passage. Ichigo desperately clawed at his hands, trying to pry them loose but to no avail. The hands kept getting tighter and it was getting harder to breath. He was already seeing spots flash before his vision.

'This man is mad!' Ichigo screamed in his head but all that came out from his lips was a weak hissing sound.

'I told you…' Aizen breathed dangerously and pressed his hands even closer to Ichigo's windpipe. '…to stop feeding my son your lies. We're happy together. Can't you see? He-!'

Suddenly, the painful hold on his neck disappeared as something, or someone, knocked Aizen off balance and sent him teetering off.

Ichigo, feeling dizzy from the sudden rush of air into his lungs, tipped sideways and leaned against a wall before sliding down gratefully to the floor. But not before he got a glimpse of Grimmjow standing between him and a shocked Aizen.

'Grimmjow?' Aizen gasped and his eyes widened at his son. 'Mein Sohn, wie konntest du-!'

'Ezstop it!' Grimmjow growled in English. Ichigo raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he was hearing him talk to his father in English. 'Do vhat you vant vith me but don't you dare hurt Ichigo! He iz…very cloze to my heart.'

He placed a trembling hand over his chest and Ichigo felt a swell of emotion overtake him. He didn't know what to say but to know that Grimmjow cared so much about him that he finally stood up to his father was overwhelming.

'You know, I am zick of thiz,' Grimmjow murmured in a low tone and glared angrily at Aizen. 'Zick of you, zick of vhat you do to me and zick of thiz pain. Do you know how much you have hurt our family vith your actionz? Do you know how much pain everyone iz in becauze of your zelfish actionz? It makez me zick!'

He spat the last word so venomously that even Aizen winced.

'You know,' Grimmjow was trembling now. He probably couldn't keep it up much longer. 'I thought you vanted vhat vaz bezt for me. I thought…that it vaz normal, vhat ve did. But it vazn't, vas it? You know vhat hurt the mozt? That you knew it vaz vrong but you ztill did it to me. Like vhat I vanted…vhat vaz right...didn't even…matter…'

'Of course it matters, Grimmjow,' Aizen said suddenly in a soft but loving voice. Ichigo growled. Nothing but lies came out of that man's mouth. 'It's why I did what I had to. To protect you. You mean the world to me. I've told you that. I would do everything I can to make you happy.'

'Pleaze, no more liez,' Grimmjow murmured. He couldn't bring himself to make eye contact anymore. Even his voice was trembling and from Ichigo's angle, he could see that Grimmjow was crying. More than anything, he wanted to comfort him but he knew now wasn't the right time. Grimmjow needed to do this. Alone.

'Thiz iz goodbye, Vater,' Grimmjow remarked quietly. 'I…I wizh you the bezt in life.'

'You can't be serious, Grimmjow,' Aizen said in shock. 'You can't…you can't cast your own Vater away! That's…that's…'

'I can't do thiz anymore,' Grimmjow replied softly. The stream of tears was heavy now. 'I…I juzt can't…'

Aizen watched him, stunned. Then, his eyes lidded but not in an angry way but hurt and upset. For a moment, he almost looked human and Ichigo actually felt sorry for him.

'You promised you'd never leave me,' he whispered to his son. For a moment, there was silence. And then, Grimmjow finally looked up to look Aizen right in the eye. His own were streaming tears and were red and puffy.

'And you promized you'd never hurt me,' Grimmjow countered. 'But by hurting Ichigo you hurt me. A lot.'

Aizen was speechless. He staggered forward, as if trying to reach out for his son but he was too far away. That was when there was a knocking on the door. It got more insistent but nobody dared move. The air was so tense they were all even afraid to breathe.

Then, they heard a click as if someone had opened the door. Probably convinced the landlord to give them the key or something. A file of men in formal suits walked in. The head approached Aizen, seeing him as the only adult in the room.

'Are you Aizen Sousuke?' the man asked in an emotionless tone. Aizen didn't answer but continued to stare listlessly at Grimmjow.

The man sighed and gently grasped his forearm.

'We were informed of your behavior towards an adolescent which goes against the laws of responsibilities when caring for a child. You'll have to come with us,' the man informed Aizen as he dragged him away. 'In the meantime, the boy will be placed in suitable care until we can find him a proper home.'

That was when Aizen snapped out of it and gave the man a surprised look.

'Oh no, no, you're mistaken,' he explained. 'See, he's my son and I've done nothing of the sort. We're perfectly fine. Really.'

'You'll have to come with us, sir,' repeated another man as he grabbed Aizen's other arm. Aizen glanced in confusion at him.

'Unhand me please,' he said quietly and tugged but the men held on firmly. 'Look, my son needs me so don't do this to him. We just had a fight and I need to comfort him right now.'

The men refused to listen and continued to move him out of the room. Grimmjow didn't even glance in their direction as they took him away. Ichigo stood up uncertainly, not knowing what to do. He glanced nervously at Grimmjow. Should he comfort him?

'Grimmjow!' Aizen called out shrilly and turned his head to stare wildly at his son's back. 'Grimmjow, please tell these men that I'm your father! Grimmjow, help your father! Grimmjow! Grimmjow, tell them I'm your father! I'm your father, Grimmjow!'

Ichigo didn't know if anyone else heard it but he did. That short, cry of sorrow that escaped Grimmjow's lips. That quiet gasp of pain as if someone had struck the boy with a knife. It was practically unnoticeable but to Ichigo, it was like the sound of someone dying.

He noticed Grimmjow tilting oddly and caught the boy just before he fell. Almost instinctively, Grimmjow grabbed Ichigo's arms and buried his face in the boy's neck. Ichigo could feel his neck getting wet but he didn't move. He simply wrapped his own arms around the now fragile boy and let him cry his angst all out.

Grimmjow needed him right now and that was all that mattered.

Well, wasn't that an emotional roller coaster. Tried to make it as realistic as possible. I guess Aizen is shown as pretty unstable, huh? Well, one more chapter but I think you all can guess that it's sorta an epilogue now. Didn't expect this chapter to be so long but I hope you all enjoyed this story.

TRANSLATIONS:

- Hast du ihn reingelassen: Did you let him in?

- Grimmjow, sag deinem dummen Freund, er soll die Klappe halten!: Grimmjow, tell your idiotic friend to shut up!

- wie konntest du-!: how could you-!