Ultimatum

Everyday people make choices. Some are relatively unimportant, but some are life-changing.

Saturday morning following Grimmjow's assault on Ginjo.

Grimmjow groaned as he lie stomach down in bed in his cold room with the comforter covering up to his nose. His eyes were open, as he stared blankly at his computer screen.

That was where he and Ichigo had first kissed. Back at a time when things were so much simpler. Before Aizen decided to track him down and before this new guy who seemed obsessed with the Kurosakis.

If only things could go back to the way they were…

Unfortunately, Kurosaki had sent him home yesterday. They hadn't even had the chance to speak to one another about anything really.

All of this was because of that Ginjo character. That man who for some strange reason Kurosaki had been so intent on protecting.

Why was that? Did he have some kind of feelings for him?

"…Or did I just cross the line this time…?" he thought to himself.

Closing his eyes tightly, he wondered why that guy just sat there and took the beating. That was the weirdest part of it all. It was like he wasn't even trying to stop him from bashing his face in. And this guy was bigger than him at that!

"He could've very easily stopped me if he wanted to. Or maybe he's a bigger pussy than Kurosaki."

Hm… Kurosaki was a pussy. That much was true. Maybe that's why he had his meltdown. Maybe seeing so much bloodshed right in front of him was too much for him to handle.

But that didn't seem to stop him when Inoue was in danger. Going to save her was practically a death trap but he threw himself into it to bring her home.

He couldn't begin to imagine what would've happened if Kurosaki's sisters were home…

Speaking of sisters, Grimmjow flipped the sheets back and made to go and see Neliel. She was sure to be making breakfast right now.

After hopping out of bed, he went over to air conditioner and turned it off. It was unbearably freezing when not nestled underneath the covers.

In the now silent room, he picked up a pair of sweats off the floor and stepped into them then a t-shirt that was hanging on the back of the chair at his computer desk.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

He heard Neliel call out that she would answer it and her hurried footsteps through the house.

Curious as to who it was, and hoping it was Kurosaki, Grimmjow exited his room and made his way to the front door.

Neliel turned around and frowned when she saw him approaching.

"Grimm…WHAT DID YOU DO!?" she exclaimed, pointing her spatula at him in an accusing manner.

"What are you talking about?" he asked then froze when the girl opened the door all the way.

Two police officers stood at the door. One with a notepad in hand and the other holding his belt in case things got out of hand.

"Are you Grimmjow Jaegerjaques?" the one with the pad asked.

"Who wants to know?" Grimmjow responded.

"We have a warrant for your arrest. We received a testimony last night that said you physically assaulted a Ginjo Kugo, CEO of XCUTION gaming Industries."

"Grimm…?" Neliel spoke in a nervous voice.

"Yeah, what if I am?" the bluenette asked.

"Cuff him."

"Che!"

Neliel's eyes watered when she saw Grimmjow turned around and placed in handcuffs.

She grabbed his arm as he was led out of the house.

"Miss, you'll have to release him or we'll be forced to detain you."

"Grimmjow-"

"Let me go, Neliel." Said man responded without emotion.

"Grimm…"

Grimmjow pulled himself away from her and was led to the police car in the driveway.

Neliel dropped her spatula and felt tears sliding uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"What should I do?" she asked herself.

"Get in the house and don't worry about this. Oh, and don't you dare tell Kurosaki!"

The girl stood in place, shaken and anxious.

After the car pulled off with Grimmjow inside, she panicked.

"I-Ichigo! I have to tell him!"

"Onii-chaaan, don't reduce yourself to eating cereal while I'm making pancakes for breakfast!" Yuzu said walking hurriedly about the kitchen as she prepared waffles and eggs.

"Sorry, Yuzu. I've got things to take care of today. I have to get out of here."

Karin, who was comfortably seated on the couch, noticed someone approaching their clinic from the driveway.

"Um, Onii-chan, there's a girl…with green hair coming to our front door."

"Neliel…?" Ichigo asked, dropping his spoon and then standing abruptly from the table. When he heard her knocking, he quickly walked over to the door and opened it.

The girl in front of him was in a state he was not used to seeing her in.

It was indeed Neliel, as he had guessed. She had tears streaming down her cheeks and her eyes had a slightly red tint around them.

"Nel-"

"Ichigo!" she cried, throwing herself onto the taller boy and sobbing hysterically.

"Neliel, what's wrong?"

"It's Grimmjow! He's…he's…"

Turning around, Ichigo remembered that his little sisters were still in range and could hear them.

Looking over the girl's shoulder, he noticed that she had driven Grimmjow's car here. Which was strange. Grimmjow didn't let anyone drive his car. He wouldn't even let anyone else hold the keys.

"Let's talk about this in the car." He said.

As he walked beside Neliel, Ichigo remembered the time he and Grimmjow had searched desperately for his keys that one rainy night. He would always remember that night because it was the first time he had ever seen Grimmjow beaten.

Upon reaching it, he put his hand gently on the passenger door handle before opening it and getting inside.

Once the doors were closed, Neliel turned to Ichigo and began speaking again.

"Grimmjow's been taken into custody! He must've done something stupid that got him into trouble, but he wouldn't say anything! He only told me not to tell you…" she managed.

Ichigo sat in the passenger's seat full of shock.

"L-let's go and see him. I'm sure he's upset and probably sca-"

"Start the car and drive Neliel."

"Okay…"

"I think I know why Grimmjow got arrested. I guess I have two people to visit this morning…" he thought to himself.

Hesitantly, Neliel started the car and headed to the police station.

Grimmjow sat angrily in his holding cell and stared the watch guard down.

He was weak. It was easy to see.

What was the law enforcement doing these days hiring such woosies. They could have been beaten by even Kurosaki. Or heck, his four-eyed know it all friend.

When the guard looked up from his book, he almost jumped when he noticed the cerulean eyes gaping at him.

The creepiest part was, not once did the prisoner blink.

Feeling anything but at ease, the guard turned his attention back to his book. At least he was behind cell bars.

He had almost forgotten Grimmjow until he started laughing hysterically and then started going on about how weak and easily intimidated the guards and other cops these days were.

"Keep it down sir! Or I'll have to-"

"Have to what? What can you do to me?" Grimmjow asked challengingly.

"Grimmjow!" Neliel shouted as she ran into the room and past the guard desk.

Ichigo followed suit.

Grimmjow's eyes went wide when he saw Ichigo with Neliel.

"Neliel! I told you not to get Kurosaki involved in this!"

"Hey, I panicked! I didn't know who else to get!"

"How'd you get here anyway?"

"N-nevermind how!"

"You drove my fucking car didn't you!?" the bluenette exclaimed, standing abruptly and grabbing the bars irritatedly.

"Grimmjow, don't yell at her." Ichigo said calmly, walking up to the cell and stopping in front of the livid man.

"Kurosaki, you shouldn't be here…"

"Why not? If the warden let me in, then I have every right to be here."

"Don't get smart with me." Grimmjow retorted.

"Grimmjow! What did you do!?" Neliel exclaimed.

Blue orbs moved between the three people in the room. The only one he wanted around, even though he shouldn't have been there in the first place, was Ichigo.

"Can we get a little privacy, please?" he asked.

The guard stood from his chair and walked over to Neliel. Although she argued him down and nearly smacked him senseless, he escorted her out of the room then closed the door behind him.

When they were alone, Grimmjow reached his hands out of the cell and grabbed Ichigo by the shirt then pulled him close.

"Kurosaki, go home. I can get out of this without your help."

"I came all this way to try and help you and this is how you repay me?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't want you to be involved in these kinds of matters. Is that so wrong?"

"Grimmjow, I think we both know I'm not going to abandon you in here. And we can also take a guess as to who had you arrested."

"That prick from yesterday… I shoulda broke his fucking voice box too…" Grimmjow growled.

After removing Grimmjow's tight grip on his shirt, Ichigo backed a few steps away and spoke, "I'm going to go see him. If possible, I'll try to get you out of this. But this is just another punishment for that temper of yours."

"Don't get involved in this."

"I'm a grown man, Grimmjow. I'll do whatever the hell I please. Just accept help when someone offers it to you."

Before Grimmjow could say anything more, Ichigo put his finger over his lips and assured him he would take care of everything.

"Kurosaki, please…" Grimmjow pleaded before Ichigo left him alone in the room.

It pained him to see Grimmjow like this. Desperate, pleading and detained like he was a zoo animal.

Whatever it took, he vowed to get Grimmjow out of this. After all, it was his fault for not being able to stop Ginjo yesterday and it was also his fault that Grimmjow saw what he did. Though his temper was something completely out of his control, Ichigo knew it was only a result of the undesirable situation he was unable to handle on his own.

There was only one place left to go now. And Ichigo had the feeling he'd be better off going alone. He snuck past Neliel and the guard and exited the police station headed further downtown.

Jackie sat alone at her desk in the large, silent lobby of XCUTION Industries.

She flipped through the pages of her magazine and paused when she saw an outfit that caught her attention. It was a summer outfit though, and it would be winter in little time at all.

"Maybe it'll be on sale…" she spoke quietly.

Thinking for a moment, she wondered what Ginjo would do for his winter vacation this year. He usually closed down the office and went on an extravagant trip. This year, he promised that wherever he went, he would have a guest along with him.

Whatever that meant.

All she knew was that this year she was going to get out of Japan for once.

Her eyes moved from her magazine to the main entrance when she heard the doors open and Ichigo entering quickly with a not so pleased expression gracing his handsome little face.

"Can I help you, Mr. Kurosaki?" she asked.

"Ginjo. I need to speak to Ginjo." Ichigo answered hurriedly.

"Alright, let me get a hold of him for you. One moment please."

She picked up the phone and dialed Ginjo's office number. It would take a few moments if the desperate seeming boy in front of her was willing to wait.

For some reason, Ichigo was able to come into this place and dictate his desires, and for some reason, Ginjo bent to his will.

She was really curious to know what was actually going on between them.

"Hello?" Ginjo answered.

"Hi, Ginjo. I have Ichigo Kurosaki here and-"

"Send him in please."

Without another word, Ginjo hung up the phone leaving Jackie utterly confused.

Nonetheless, she had been given her orders.

She picked up the phone and paged Riruka to the front desk.

She'd be more than glad to see Ichigo up to the office.

"I really wonder what you're doing here so early in the morning. On a Saturday at that." Riruka said, eying Ichigo down as they made their way into the elevator.

Ignoring her suspicions, Ichigo stepped in and stood against the wall, deep in thought.

Riruka watched him from the corner of her eyes. She could tell he was upset. For some reason she couldn't explain, that upset her as well.

The small space remained quiet for the few moments as they made their way to the fourth floor.

It was uncomfortable and slightly awkward. Well, for Riruka that was.

When the elevator stopped, the girl grabbed her stomach from the nauseating feeling the stop most elevators caused.

She tried to exit, but Ichigo put a firm arm out in front of her.

Looking questionably into his eyes, she felt a tinge of fear at the darker shade of brown and lack of light due to the orange bangs covering a good bit of them.

He didn't utter a word. All he did was shook his head.

Understanding his message, Riruka stood in place and watched Ichigo exit the elevator. He walked down the hallway but before he reached Ginjo's office, the elevator doors closed and he was gone from her sight.

"Ichigo…" she mouthed.

Jackie turned and grinned when she saw Riruka entering the lobby again.

"Well well, where's our impatient guest? He and Ginjo spending the day together?" she joked.

"Hmmmmm! That idiot! Why is he SO MEAN!? The whole way he was quiet! Never said a single word to me! What's worse is that he doesn't have any rep around here but Ginjo gives him everything he wants! Ugh! Jackie!"

"What is it?"

"Hmph! I'm taking the day off! I can't be here right now!" Riruka said angrily, walking to the front door and exiting heatedly.

"Y-you don't work here, Riruka!" Jackie reminded before the doors closed.

"Whatever!" she heard the girl shout.

"Ichigo, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Ginjo asked from his seat at his office desk.

He leaned forward and rested his head on his hand with a smile.

Though the lights were off and the room was barely lit by the lights from the blinds, it was easy to see the result of what happened yesterday.

Brown eyes moved about the man's face without emotion.

His cheeks were a darkened shade of red. His eyes were a dark shade of purple. Most notably, his nose had a patch over it as it was nearly broken.

Ginjo had gotten exactly what he was asking for. Grimmjow's handiwork was not to be taken lightly on any occasion.

"What did you do?" Ichigo asked crossly, ignoring the smile on the man's lips.

"What do you mean, kid? I do a lot of things all day long. Be more specific." Ginjo grinned showing his front rows of pearly whites.

"Grimmjow is in a holding cell downtown and I know it must have been you. Fess up, Ginjo."

"Oh, that. Yeah. I had him arrested." Noting the boy's expression, Ginjo continued, "Don't look so stunned. Did you expect anything else? I mean, you did just accuse me and I admitted to it."

Ichigo shook himself of his emotions to ask, "Are you going to press charges on him?"

"Now that, Ichigo, depends on your choice here today."

Squinting in confusion, Ichigo watched as Ginjo rose from his seat and strolled over to his window.

He stuck his fingers between the blinds and peered out for a moment.

"What does that mean, Ginjo?"

Turning and looking the boy over with big innocent eyes, Ginjo smiled and walked from the window over to him and placed his arm on his shoulder.

"Don't touch me."

"That attitude of yours is about to change. You see, I hold the key to your boyfriend's future. And that key is you."

"That…doesn't make any sense."

"If you want to hear it right out, I guess I'll tell you. But you won't like it…"

"Stop screwing around Ginjo!"

Ginjo smirked, and then took Ichigo's chin into his hand, "Break up with that street thug, and I won't press charges on him. Simple, right?"

Ichigo's eyes went wide in disbelief.

"Th-that's-"

"On the other hand, if you stay with him, it won't be a very satisfying relationship, now will it? I mean, how much can you do together if he's in jail? Think about it."

Ichigo wrenched himself free of Ginjo's grasp, "You're blackmailing me! That's not fair!" Ichigo exclaimed, shaking his head.

"I tried doing things the right way with you, but you just wouldn't play with me. No pun intended."

"So you set up everything so Grimm would attack you and you could coerce me into-"

"That's right."

"But how could you have known when-"

"How did I know when your boyfriend would be arriving at your house? I've got eyes where I need them, Ichigo. I've been keeping tabs on you for the past two weeks. All the while hoping you'd give me a visit. It's really been lonely you know…"

"Don't mess with me…" Ichigo stated, not knowing what to say to this situation.

"Now there's nothing you can do but abide by my orders. Because I know you'd do anything to make sure that ruffian has a decent future…well, decent for him but mediocre at best really." Ginjo sneered.

"Ginjo-"

"Oh, but you haven't heard the best part yet." Ginjo turned away in content before speaking, "After breaking up with him, you'll be getting engaged to me. That's to come on a later date of course. For now, you'll just be with me. Mine and mine only. I guess you don't have much of a choice now do you…? If you don't want me to press charges that is."

Ichigo backed away and nearly fell over his own foot. He could feel himself heating up all over in frustration.

He was so angry right now he could finish the job he wouldn't let Grimmjow do.

"I'm no fool by the way. To make sure you don't just leave me after all these bruises have healed, there's something else you have to do for me…"

"Who said I was going along with your little plan, Ginjo?" Ichigo asked defiantly.

"You don't need to say you'll go along with it. I can already read it on your face that you will. Because you want the best for him right? If you don't, he'll end up in jail, for quite a while thanks to my legal division, and it'll be all your fault."

"…"

"Back to that last part of our little deal… I want you to swear it on your mother's grave that you won't leave me once the bruises have healed. I say that because I know you'd never betray a promise of this magnitude not to be a horrible person. If you agree to all of my conditions, your friend will have his freedom and return to his mundane life at that pedestrian job of his."

Ichigo stood in place, unable to speak. And for once, unable to think.

The world was shaking beneath his feet; his own private earthquake registering at cataclysmic levels thanks to Ginjo.

It was either let Grimmjow sink or save him in the most hurtful and abandoning of ways. This manipulation was genius in the sense that there was practically no saying no to the conditions. It left him feeling vulnerable and powerless.

Glancing up at the man approaching, Ichigo bawled his hands into fists and felt his cheeks heating up. His eyes were near watering but he couldn't tell.

"These are the components to this little contract. So, do we have a deal?" Ginjo asked, grabbing the boy's hand, unclenching it, and resting his cheek on the palm of it.

Lots of reviews = more incentive to get the next chapter up quicker! And thanks to my faithful reviewers thus far!