Hey folks this is a revised upload, which is why it's so short, anywhoo thanks!
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"Sit the fuck down." The voice was whispered but it carried how annoyed the speaker was.
"Shinji, you can't swear here, we're at the ballet." Lisa was horrified at the lack of decorum in her friends but she shouldn't be surprised. It wasn't like they often visited the big theatre in town, they'd never played there either. There were four royal boxes, two on either side of the stage but they would miss the extreme edges of the performance and were mostly used for lights or speakers.
"Tch, it's not the real ballet, it's just a bunch of trainees practicing." Shinji sucked his teeth, speaking loudly but the performance hadn't started yet.
"Ssshhh!"
Shinji glared over his seat back; doing a quick head count to make sure his group was all present and sitting together in the red velvet seats. He swore under his breath this time, thinking he felt like a teacher herding toddlers to the pantomime. Yuzu, Karin and Ichigo's dad, affectionately called Dr Goatface by the crew were sitting with them, one seat left empty in between the twins. Karin had insisted that Grimmjow sit with her, she didn't have any interest in most of the dancers, here only to support her brother and she got on well with his boyfriend. Yuzu had joined in saying she'd like to sit with Grimmjow as well, the big blue haired man blushing before agreeing to both of them. He was however running a bit late.
"Where the hell have you been?" Shinji leaned forward in his seat, gripping the red arm rests as he spoke to the late comer.
"Ssshhhh!"
Shinji glared again before turning back to Grimmjow who was just getting to his seat. "I was running late. Tried to call Ichigo to wish him luck but he didn't pick up. Guess he was here already." Grimmjow smoothed his shirt down, doing a quick, sly check for sweat patches from his rush.
"Ssshhhhh!"
The lights dimmed and the gold tassel edged curtains started to open, Grimmjow pulling his phone out to make sure it was on silent. He tucked it back in his pocket before slouching down a bit, turning to the darker haired twin. "You got a program for this shit?" She passed him a folded page, the school name embossed on the front and on the inside was the lists of the students performing that night for their final exams. Ichigo was about two thirds of the way down meaning he'd have to sit through over an hour of strangers in tights before seeing his better half. "Wake me when it's nearly his turn?"
Interval happened half way through the program, Dr Goatface buying ice creams for all of them, two for himself and they sat chatting lightly when the lights were up. Grimmjow took the chance to check his phone again but there was nothing on his screen. They heard a bit of commotion up the stairs from their seats and they turned, Shinji standing with a frown before slinking along to the end of their row to meet the female gesturing to him. Grimmjow didn't know her, she looked older and fairly severe but most ballet teachers did in his opinion. The spoke quietly but from the gestures it was fairly heated. Shinji tugged on his hair for a moment before turning back and heading for them, perching on an empty seat back in front of the crew.
"Ichigo's missing, he didn't make it to dress rehearsal earlier and no one's heard from him."
Grimmjow's frown nearly split his face with its ferocity. He looked around as if trying to spot his lover in the crowd before turning back to the leader of the crew. "What the hell do you mean? He was supposed to be here hours ago, why are we only hearing about this now?"
Shinji frowned as well, realising the logic in Grimmjow's question he turned to the female, the woman shaking her head and shrugging. "He's one of the wilder ones, he's not as disciplined as most of the dancers, gifted and talented definitely but I've never tried to contain him. He didn't make it to rehearsal today but he's had the routine down for weeks. Where was he today? Can we track him down?"
Everyone turned to Grimmjow, as if he had a tracker on his lover. "I haven't seen him in two weeks because of this, he was home." Grimmjow turned the stares to Isshin and the girls, Yuzu visibly upset.
"He left, just after lunch. Said he had to pick something up at your place Grimm. He wanted his shirt or something and was hoping to catch you at home."
Grimmjow thought for a moment before remembering Ichigo's favourite sleeveless top was in the clean washing pile in his utility room. He was supposed to have dropped it off the night before but had completely forgotten. "Shit, I was supposed to bring it to him last night." Grimmjow stood and grabbed his jacket up. "I'll go home and see if he's there."
"I'll call the hospital and see if he's been taken in, he was on his skates." Isshin pulled his phone out, Grimmjow giving him a curt nod before heading out.
"I'm coming with you Grimm." Kensei hopped over the back of his seat, walking along the currently empty row to meet the taller man. Kensei was one of the dance crew that Grimmjow got along with. He didn't dislike any of them but he had a bit more in common with the older, quieter male.
"Why would he be at you place? Does he have a key?" They walked quickly, ducking round the queues for the toilets and the refreshment stand until they were out of the door.
"No yet, I was going to give him one but he's been a bit unavailable recently. Why the hell didn't he call before heading over? I was working today." Grimmjow was worried and mostly convinced that he was going on a wild goose chase to his place. He'd come straight from his work, still smelling a bit of oil but convinced he'd got most of it off. Ulquiorra had given him the once over before allowing him to leave.
They jumped into Grimmjow's truck, the engine growling as they took off. The theatre was on Grimmjow's side of town so it took less than ten minutes before Grimmjow was abandoning his truck on the kerbside and heading inside, Kensei on his heels. Grimmjow considered the lift but hit the stairs, brushing past Melony without a word, the timid woman shrinking against the wall with the black trash bag clutched in her hand. Kensei spared the strange woman a half smile as he followed Grimmjow out of the stairwell into the empty hall, Grimmjow opening his door and shouting his lover's name.
"Ichigo!" There was no reply, Grimmjow hunting his rooms quickly but coming up empty handed. He found the shirt half way down the pile, the rest of the laundry dumped onto the floor before Grimmjow left his home with the shirt in his hand. "He's not here; can you call Shinji and see if they've had any luck?"
Kensei nodded, pulling his phone out and taking a step to the side. Grimmjow ran his hands through his hair, pulling slightly as he thudded his back into the wall. He watched Kensei, the other glancing up at him and shaking his head slightly. Grimmjow straightened off the wall with a growl, turning and punching it like it had given offence. He heard a light gasp; turning and seeing Melony back up the stairs, doing everything to keep her eyes down.
"Melony, have you seen my boyfriend Ichigo?" Grimmjow grabbed the girl gently, feeling her tremble in his grip. He loosened his grip to a simple touch, staring imploringly at the other.
She didn't struggle but she turned away, keeping her face away. The hallway fell silent for a second, only being broken by a muffled thud. It came from the girls' place, Grimmjow glancing up before turning back to the girl in his hands.
"Melony, where is my Ichigo?" Grimmjow calmed his voice down, keeping his anger in control for the moment.
"She took him." The words were almost breathed, so quiet it took Grimmjow a second to process them.
"Where? Where did she take him?" That was the only important thing in Grimmjow's mind; he'd work the rest of the details out along the way.
Melony just looked at her front door as if it was the front gates of Hell, real tears flowing down her face. She then turned her face away, opening her hand so a pink fluffy key chain dangled out from her fingers. Grimmjow took it gently, the girl letting it fall into his hand.
Grimmjow took one look at Kensei, seeing the anger inside him reflected in the other's eyes before walking over to the door. He put the key in gently, turning it slowly before pushing the door carefully. It didn't matter it seemed as the door creaked loudly at the slightest push.
"Mel, I need some help in here. Bring in some more towels, bloods starting to stain the fucking mats."
Grimmjow's face went blank; the dark look he'd been sporting vanished as he straightened himself. Kensei gripped his arm for a moment, standing side by side as they approached the open door the woman was clearly behind. It led into the bathroom, the men seeing the woman crouching over the tub. Both of them tensed as they approached the door, their height giving them a good vantage point over the side of the tub. A long leg was cocked up on the side, red smears on it that still looked wet. The body was undressed from the waist down but the other half was obscured by the female holding a towel to the body in the tub. Kensei and Grimmjow exchanged a look of fury, the person in the tub was clearly in trouble.
"MEL! Hurry up, it won't stop."
"Mel isn't coming." Grimmjow's voice was clear of any inflection, showing his anger only in its lack of emotion. Loly swung his head round, eyes wide as she fell on his ass. Grimmjow shoved the door open more, about to reach into the tub but stopping with a jerk as he saw the face of the guy in the tub. He turned to the girl on the floor, her hands stained red with the blood. "Where is he?"
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