Chapter Twenty Three
"Why are ya sittin' like that?" Shinji asked Ichigo later that night after he had gotten back from his mother's.
Ichigo was slumped on the couch with his arms laying limply at his sides, grinning like he had been since before Shinji had shown up, and shook his head. "No reason."
Shinji pursed his lips and squinted his eyes as he assessed his friends weird behavior. "What'd ya do taday?"
Ichigo shrugged. "School, then came back here."
There was a knock at the door and Shinji answered it, surprised when he saw his neighbor standing there in all his redheaded glory.
"Yo, is, ah, Ichigo here?"
Shinji cocked an eyebrow at him and turned to look over his shoulder, a slight bemused and curious look on his face. "Ichi, Renji from next door is here for ya."
Ichigo jumped up and walked to the door, a small smile still on his face.
"I forgot to tell you something about the…." Renji started.
"Party!" Ichigo interrupted with the first thing that came to his mind and pushed open the door further, stepping outside and grabbing Renji's arm, pulling him down the hall a ways.
Shinji's eyes widened as the two whispered and Ichigo blushed and scratched the back of his head. Had something happened between the two of them while he was gone today? Now he really wasn't sure how to feel about this new development. He hadn't liked Grimmjow in Ichigo's life as a lover but Renji? No, he really didn't know how to feel about that at all. Renji laughed and shook his head, patting Ichigo's shoulder before stepping back inside his own apartment. Ichigo walked back inside and sat on the couch, ignoring the look that Shinji was giving him. Shinji shut the door and plopped on the couch next to Ichigo, sighing dramatically.
"So, I'm gonna ask again. What'd ya do taday, Ichigo?"
"It's not what you think." Ichigo sighed, knowing that this was going to happen but not really prepared for it. And his mood had been so good up until then.
"Really? 'Cause it looked like ya got a big juicy secret with my hot neighbor."
Ichigo rolled his eyes and leaned his head back against the couch. He could tell Shinji what he had done, but he'd never hear the end of it if he did. Shinji absolutely adored men with tattoos. Then again Shinji didn't sound like he was ready to drop the issue as it was so he was pretty much screwed either way. With a loud sound of frustration he stood and pulled the right side of his pants down, revealing the slightly reddened but still darkly bold backwards six. Shinji gasped, both at the sudden movement as much as the sight of Ichigo pulling down his pants.
"Is… is that a tattoo?" He asked in a breathy voice.
Ichigo nodded and gingerly covered himself back up, leaving his pants unzipped and wishing fleetingly that he owned a pair of pajama pants like Grimmjow's. He sighed again. All this thinking about Grimmjow was starting to give him a headache, not to mention his chest was starting to constrict. What would Grimmjow think if he ever saw it? He snorted at his own thoughts and startled Shinji. He'd probably hate it.
"Why'd ya get a tattoo?" Shinji asked incredulously. "I mean, not that it's not cool, just…." He shook his head, still staring at Ichigo's now covered hip.
Another question he didn't feel like answering. Shinji sure was full of them lately. Ichigo shrugged and sat back down, figuring the only way he was going to get out of this was a quick change to the right subject.
"How's okaachan?"
Shinji's smile returned and he began to ramble on about his mother's newest pet project: raising chickens. Ichigo just shook his head and smiled. That woman must have had her hand in just about everything at one point or another but she was the happiest person he had ever met. Having successfully steered Shinji away from him, Ichigo was content to sit back and listen. Though thoughts of Grimmjow still bothered him at times, it was getting easier. Easier to live, easier to remember. Easier to move forward.
Saturday the sun came out, bringing with it the warmth that had been missing for months. Spring was just around the corner and it could finally be felt in the air in the form of soft warm breezes that tickled the skin and promised more in the days to come. The day passed quickly, Shinji's excitement for the night's event was starting to spill over onto Ichigo and he found himself eager to get out and let go. The few times in his life that he had actually been able to do that were while dancing, whether at the club or out clubbing. When the time came Shinji slipped his arm through Ichigo's and together they walked to Club Spirit.
A slight breeze blew as Ichigo and Shinji waited outside for Shuuhei and his friends to show up and Ichigo took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh smell in the air with a small smile. They weren't waiting long, Shuuhei showed up with only one other person, the tall redheaded Renji. Shinji almost choked and elbowed Ichigo in the side with his cast. When Ichigo grunted and grabbed his aching ribs Shinji ignored him, thoughts of setting up the two redheads dancing through his head while at the same time trying to find a reason not to completely attack Shuuhei and all his yummy goodness. He barely managed to restrain himself.
"Hey, you two weren't waiting long were you?" Shuuhei asked, stepping closer to Shinji and smiling at Ichigo.
Shinji beamed. Oh, this was already going better than he had hoped. "Nope. Ya ready to dance that ass off?"
Shuuhei smiled, a light blush adorning his cheeks. "Y-yeah. Let's go."
Ichigo looked at Renji and rolled his eyes, Renji laughing and shaking his head at the gesture. It was still early in the evening but the club was packed, the music pumping through the speakers at ear bleeding levels and clubbers of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds dancing on the floor. Shinji was fast in conversation with Shuuhei as the four of them went directly to the bar to order their drinks. They each took a shot of tequila before Ichigo reminded Shinji that he shouldn't drink much. Shinji rolled his eyes and ordered one more round of shots for everyone, sticking his pierced tongue out at Ichigo as he did so. Renji leaned over to speak to Ichigo directly in the ear so he could be heard.
"I hope this doesn't offend you but I always thought you and Shinji were together."
Ichigo smirked. "A lot of people think that, especially when they find out what we do for a living." he replied with a smile. That kind of comment had stopped bothering him years ago.
Renji reached for Ichigo's shot and handed it to him, nearly spilling it in the process as Shinji jumped off the bar stool he had claimed as his and shouted, "I love this song!" downing the shot Shuuhei handed him before pulling him onto the dance floor.
It took a while for Ichigo to get into the flow of things, the vibe in large clubs like this one always felt off from the small one he danced at but soon his body began to tingle and buzz along with the music. Once he could feel his body react to the music he wandered towards the dance floor, his hips swaying in tune with the beat. Shinji could be seen off to the right, one of Shuuhei's arms wrapped around his waist as they moved in time, eyes closed, already so into their movements no one else existed. Someone bumped into him and he turned to see a startled Renji.
"Sorry." He shouted over the music. "Hey, this may sound weird, but do you wanna dance?"
Ichigo usually danced with Shinji so he wasn't sure if he could dance with another man but he wasn't about to interrupt whatever was going on over in the corner. He looked once more over his shoulder and frowned. They were getting a little too intimate. One of Shuuhei's hands slid up inside Shinji's shirt as two fingers from his other hand slowly dipped inside his mouth. Shinji bit the offered fingers before sucking them in and rolling his hips back. Shuuhei looked up, catching Ichigo looking and held his eyes for a moment before switching his gaze to Renji standing behind him, looking quickly away. Ichigo was a little thrown off by the intensity of the look and shifted his attention elsewhere. By the time he turned around again Shinji and Shuuhei were gone and Renji was still waiting for an answer. He took a deep breath and nodded, the action making his head spin a little.
"Sure, why not."
He thought it would be awkward at first, dancing with someone he barely knew but it seemed his body had a mind of it's own, inching a little too close to Renji, reaching out and touching a muscled chest, firm shoulders, taut neck, silky hair. He shook his head. Something wasn't right here. Had those two shots done him in, he wondered? No that couldn't be it, he had never gotten drunk from two shots of alcohol, not even the first time he drank. He started to pull away from Renji, feeling hot and claustrophobic all of the sudden. He needed air. And water. A river of water. Ice cold oceans of water. He stumbled away and searched for the exit, his limbs beginning to feel heavy as he bumped into several dancers who glared at him for the interruption. He was grabbed around the waist and led out the back exit, surprised when he saw Shuuhei with Shinji draped over his shoulder.
"Wha…?" He started to say before his eyes rolled in the back of his head and consciousness left him.
Shinji woke up when a glacial wetness struck him full force in the face making his sputter and attempt sitting up. He quickly found that not to be an easy option. He blinked at his surroundings, something that appeared to be a dark warehouse of some sort. Where the hell was he? He tried to move his arms, finding them tied together in front of him, his feet in a similar state and he frowned down at himself. What the hell was going on?
"Looks like the blond one's awake." A deep voice said above him and he looked up into a dark pair of eyes.
"The fuck'er you?" Shinji mumbled, barely managing to get the words out at first.
"Don't matter who I am. You just keep yer mouth shut and be a good little hostage."
What had once been a foggy mind was quickly cleared as he realized the situation. He struggled once again to sit up and managed it before a foot connected with his stomach and sent him rolling into a wall. He coughed at the force of it, and clenched his teeth, willing himself not to vomit.
"You said he wouldn't be hurt!"
Shinji stiffened as he recognized the voice and didn't want to believe it. I couldn't be him!
"You just shut yer trap. Why're you even still here?" The deep voice asked.
Shinji didn't want to hear the answer and he leaned forward, his teeth attacking the poorly tied ropes around his wrists. It wouldn't take much to get out of those, he thought to himself as they quickly fell away.
"I was told to wait here." The familiar voice answered.
The man with the deep voice snorted. "Always the obedient little bitch, ain't ya?"
Shinji reached slowly for his ankles once his wrists were free and stood up before anyone realized he had gotten free. He brushed himself off as if it were no big deal and looked up into the startled faces of four men, one he recognized all too well.
"How the hell did you get out of that?" One man asked stupidly and Shinji grinned.
"Maybe ya should learn ta tie better." He replied, his gaze flicking to the deep voiced man. "Where am I? Why'd ya bring me here?"
The man smirked. "I didn't bring ya here, he did." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and the man behind him looked away.
Shinji bit his lip and sighed. "Well don't that just suck ass. Too bad I won't be stayin'." He stepped forward and three large men moved to block him. He sighed, realizing he couldn't take them all with a broken arm, but knowing that he'd hate himself if he didn't try.
He lifted both his hands and looked at his knuckles, shaking his head as he did so.
"Well damn." He muttered before swinging out at the closest man to him.
His cast hit the side of his head hard enough for everyone in the room to hear a crack, followed by a groan and a crumpled body on the floor. Shinji's grin widened as he looked up at the other two. That had hurt like hell but he had to keep moving. He lashed out at the next man, ducking a punch and kneeing him in the groin as hard as he could. If they were going to fight a guy with an injury three to one Shinji was going to fight dirty. The thought barely entered his mind before a pointed boot caught him under the chin and sent him backwards again, this time his own body falling limp and unconscious.
The deep voiced man turned to the only other person standing and smirked. "Too easy."
"You were told not to kill him. I hope he's not hurt too bad."
Two men entered the building, one man holding a handkerchief to his mouth while the other smiled sweetly at everyone present. The man who had spoken looked curiously down at Shinji's body and sighed before returning his attention to the deep voiced man.
"Tie him properly to that chair over there so I can take a picture. Hurry up before he wakes up. And you," The man smiled at the young man standing behind him. "Your debt is paid up now, thank you. You may leave as soon as we finish here."
The young man nodded and shifted his weight, looking worriedly at Shinji as he was lifted off the floor none too gently and tossed in a metal chair. Shinji's arms were tired behind him tightly, each of his legs tied to a separate side of the chair. He groaned and lifted his head, everything spinning and his teeth throbbing.
"The fuck…?"
"Gag him as well." The smiling man said.
The deep voiced man smirked and did as he was told before stepping back to admire his work. Shinji wasn't going anywhere any time soon. Shinji glared up at him and tried to speak through the dirty rag that had been stuck in his mouth. It tasted like gasoline and made his stomach roll. The smiling man stepped in front of him and pulled out a cell phone, snapping a quick picture of the him before stepping aside. He saved the picture and dialed a memorized phone number. He would soon have some answers that he needed.
Grimmjow rolled over in bed, one of the kittens protesting loudly at having almost been crushed and looked sleepily around for whatever the hell was making so much damn noise. He found his phone and picked it up, glaring at the unrecognizable number before answering it.
"The fuck'er you?" He growled.
"My aren't we just an angry bear when we just wake up."
Grimmjow frowned and sighed. "Who the hell're you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matter's is whether or not you want what I have."
"I'm hanging up."
"But then you won't find out where I hid him."
Grimmjow's blood ran cold at the words and he was alert in an instant. "Hid who?"
"Well it's not fun if you don't play the game."
"Hid who damn it!"
The man on the other end of the phone sighed dramatically. "No fun at all. Alright then, as I said I have something you may be interested in. Something very special to someone very special. Can you guess what it is?"
"Just tell me what you want." Grimmjow almost yelled into the phone. He didn't like these kinds of games. People got hurt, people died in these kinds of games.
He almost threw the phone when the line went cold. What the hell kinda of game was this if he wasn't given any information? He jerked when an incoming message made his phone beep and looked down. It was a picture, the person in it very clear. Shinji, tied to a chair, bloody and soaking wet. An incoming text tore his attention away from the picture.
If you want him back bring the money to the right place. Don't wait too long, or he might not be in as good a condition as he is now.
An address and amount was then texted to him and he shook his head. How was this his business? Shinji wasn't anything to him, in fact he hated the mouthy little shit. I have something you may be interested in. Something very special to someone very special. So that's how it was? If this was somehow related to the man that had a hit out on him were they trying to find out how important Ichigo was to him? If so he couldn't very well show up to save the day, it would just prove to them what they probably already knew. But if he didn't go and Shinji was killed, what if Ichigo found out that he had had a chance to step in and didn't? He'd be fucked out of any chance they may have had in the future that's what.
"Fuck!" He said as he threw the covers back and reached for his clothes.
He kicked Nnoitra, who was sleeping on the couch in the living area of the suite they were staying in and ignored his angry protests as he dialed Shawlong.
"Boss?" A groggy voice answered.
"I need a million yen. Now."
Shawlong cleared his throat. "That might be a little difficult right now boss."
"I don't care how you get it, but it needs to be now. I gotta go pay some guys off."
He hung up, not feeling the need to explain anything to his subordinate and turned to Nnoitra a deep frown on his face.
"They're fuckin' with me."
"Who?"
"They are holding Blondie, extorting me for money to come and get him."
Nnoitra's eye widened. "But, wouldn't it have been easier to take the bitch?"
Grimmjow nodded. "Yeah, but I think they are feelin' me out. Tryin' to see just how much… well you know." He looked away, his frown, if possible, deepening.
"But…?"
"If I don't go and Ichigo finds out… just get up and dressed. I might need yer help."
Less than an hour later Grimmjow pulled up to the address he had been given and wasn't surprised in the least that it was an old warehouse on it's last legs. He sighed and shook his head before grabbing the duffle bag full of notes and stepping out of the car. That was ridiculous, playing these fucking games. If they wanted him dead, then fucking come out and kill him already. He was met at the entrance and frisked for weapons, something he had anticipated, having left everything with Nnoitra with the express instructions that if he wasn't back within twenty minutes to come in after him. He was led to a small room and let inside, two men standing around and staring at a bound figure in the middle of the room. They turned to him as the door was shut behind him and the smaller of the two smiled.
"Oh good, you found us. You have the money I assume?" He asked, his voice far to loud and chipper in the small room.
"Yeah I got yer money, now let him go." Shinji stared at him with huge eyes, not comprehending what was going on. Why was he there?
"Goodie, then we'll make this quick." The man said, ignoring the second half of Grimmjow's sentence. "First, tell me why you're here."
"It doesn't matter why. I'm here, I have money. Take it." Grimmjow grit his teeth. He already hated this man.
"You really are no good at games, are you?" The man reached inside his suit and pulled out a gun, pointing at a young man standing in the corner and shot him in. The young man screamed and fell to the ground as Shinji struggled in his chair. The man continued to smile. "Why are you here for him?" The man waved the gun in Shinji's direction.
"Because,…" Grimmjow didn't want to say it out loud but he couldn't risk anyone else getting shot. Clearly this man wasn't messing around. "Because of Ichigo Kurosaki." He glared. "Now let the blond go."
The man laughed, a high pitched sound that grated on everyone's ears. "Good! Good. Riku, relieve Mr. Jaegerjaques of that heavy bag and we will be on our way." The deep voiced man stepped forward before the smiling man stopped him with a small gesture. "Oh, there is one more thing…."
Grimmjow grimaced as he felt a pain stabbing through his side and looked down at the knife protruding from him as it was yanked out and immediately thrust back in. Shinji ceased his struggles as he watched Grimmjow stagger backwards and grab at the wound, sending a heated glare at the smiling man.
"Such a scary look. You didn't actually think I'd let you out of here unscathed did you? Goodbye, Mr. Jaegerjaques. Perhaps next time we play it will be much more fun."
The man left with Riku and the hidden stabber, closing the door quietly behind them and Grimmjow staggered closer to Shinji before his knees gave out and he collapsed to the ground.
"Fuck." He grunted, his head already beginning to feel the effects of the blood loss. If he could just get to Shinji and untie him….
Too late he pitched forward and groaned, unable to move another inch. Shinji screamed, muffled by the gag in his mouth and struggled harder figuring that if he got closer to Grimmjow he might be able to get him to untie him. In his struggles the chair tipped over and fell, hitting his forehead and the concrete floor and seeing stars. Damn it he was close, so close! He couldn't just sit there and watch both Grimmjow and the young man bleed to death. What the hell was he going to do? His breathing picked up, rapid puffs of air entering and exiting through his nose. He couldn't control it, he was watching, WATCHING, them die right in front of him and he couldn't do a damn thing about it. No, this couldn't happen to him. Not again. He closed his eyes and shook his head violently, screaming at his bound limbs to break free and knowing there was no way.
Suddenly the door burst open and Nnoitra stepped inside, sighing at what he saw. Grimmjow was on the ground, lying in a pool of his own blood. A young man who looked vaguely familiar was also down for the count and bleeding profusely. And then there was Shinji, shaking his head, his eyes screwed shut tight, hyperventilating. Nnoitra shook his head and bent down, reaching for Grimmjow and speaking in a conversational tone, startling the shaking blond.
"Yer car's gonna get all bloody." He said the Grimmjow. "An' ya can't go blamin' me for it 'cause it ain't my blood this time."
"Asshole." Grimmjow bit out as he was pulled up too quickly.
Nnoitra was back in an instant and picking up the other bleeding body, out shoving in the car in no time. Once he finally got to Shinji the poor young man was staring off with a glazed look in his eyes, his breathing still coming in quick gasps. Nnoitra pulled a knife from his pocket and cut the gag away before quickly cutting through the ties on his wrists and ankles. Without saying anything he tossed Shinji over his shoulder, meeting no resistance from the smaller man, and walked out to the car, tossing him in back with the gunshot victim. Shinji was startled out of his trance at the sight before him and he reached out to him.
"Shuuhei?"
"Use his shirt to plug up the hole till we get to the hospital or he's gonna bleed to death." Nnoitra said, starting the car and gunning the engine, driving at breakneck speeds through town.
Shinji did as he was told, his movements mechanical as he did his best to stall the bleeding. He wondered how Grimmjow was doing. Something struck him suddenly that he should have realized before then and he spoke, his voice far louder and steady than he had anticipated.
"Where's Ichigo?"
A/N I have perhaps fried my brain with lack of sleep so if this A/N makes no sense forgive me ^^; DRAMA, lol. I was looking forward to writing this chapter for quite a while but I really can't wait to write the next one. Sorry about the cliffhanger *not really, ;p* And Whoa... when I posted chapter 20 there were like 470ish reviews and now after 21 and 22 there are almost a hundred more than that. I could cry! thanks you all so much for the suport! And to everyone who has fav'ed and alerted and all that other stuff giant hugs to you all. Okay, I'm going to go pass out now *is dead*
~Penny