Wow, that last chapter got the most reviews thus far, which was to be expected. You may see more of Vivienne yet. But let's see how this chapter does with you all...

Winter's Embraces and a Meltdown

A warm and loving embrace in the cold winter weather; a sweet gesture from one of the most unexpected of people…

Early December. Grimmjow has been taken to Dubai by his mother, Vivienne.

Friday night.

While flipping through a popular computer programming magazine, Ginjo sat on the couch in the living room of his comfy apartment. He was talking calmly to someone over phone.

Ichigo sat in the recliner across the room, watching the man in the dimly lit room.

His mind was anywhere but on him though.

All he'd wondered about for the past few days since Grimmjow had gone was Grimmjow and how he was doing. What was he up to in Dubai? Was he getting along with his mother? What was he thinking about? Was he still upset about what had transpired between them the night of his accident?

"I hope not… He needs to relax, not think about how hurtful my actions have been to him." He thought.

Honestly, Ichigo was just glad Grimmjow was still alive. He realized that if he had said something different, rephrased his words to something a little more caring, then he never would have stormed out that night. But… When it came to the relationship that used to be between them, he could not lead the man on in any way whatsoever. It wouldn't be fair.

After all, he still had yet to come up with a way to get out of this deal he'd been forced into with Ginjo. The oath he swore on his mother's name… What would she think about him breaking it?

Hurting her again after he already caused her death would be…

"No." he thought abruptly.

Before she left this world, she had told him that it wasn't his fault. His father told him, when he was clearly devastated at the loss of his soul mate, that it wasn't his fault. Even Grimmjow had could tell that she didn't feel that way.

But still, the pain of that rainy night would always remain. And he just couldn't imagine causing his mother any more pain in the afterlife. She deserved some peace. Even if that meant he sacrificed his own happiness.

"Yeah," Ginjo said, interrupting Ichigo's thoughts. "I can't decide where we're gonna go, but I'm thinking either a desert resort somewhere, or maybe the beach out in the Caribbean."

"A desert resort?" the boy whispered, and then looked at Ginjo out of the corner of his eye.

Ginjo turned to him and grinned before putting down his magazine, getting off the couch, and then leaving the room.

His previously clear words thus became vague mumbles, echoing down the hallway from the back room.

Originally, Ichigo had planned to stay home over the break no matter what Ginjo said. But if there was even a fraction of a possibility of him going to Dubai, then he would go with the man. For some reason, he felt the need to see Grimmjow even though he knew it was for the best that he was isolated right now.

Glancing out the window, Ichigo sighed. The stars had, lately, reminded him of Grimmjow's unwavering motivation. He really was intent on pursuing him, no matter how much it hurt him to do so. And that, he smiled when the thought crossed his mind, was his way of showing his love.

"Hey, Ichigo! Come back here!"

Said boy rolled his eyes and ignored Ginjo, pulling out his phone and starting a game to distract himself. Honestly, he wouldn't even be here if Ginjo hadn't insisted he stay over again. The last time he'd done this had been very awkward and unpleasant. But this time, he was putting together the pieces of a plan to rid himself of the man altogether. Why not toss him a bone since this wouldn't be happening again?

When Ginjo's large shadow appeared on the wall in the hallway, the boy knew he was coming.

"Damnit… Can't he just leave me alone in here…?"

When Ginjo stepped into the living room, he stopped and stared, "Ichigo, come to bed with me. I won't be able to see you tomorrow because I have some things to arrange for our vacation."

"I'm not tired, Ginjo."

"Nonsense. You've been here sitting around since seven this morning. I know you must be ready to see a bed. And I want to have some fun with you tonight… since you're soon to be my fiancé anyway."

"No thank you. I'll sleep on the couch, if you don't mind."

"I bet it didn't take much for that Jaegerjaques kid to get in your pants."

"Because I fucking like him!"

Black eyebrows knitted down.

Without warning, Ginjo quickly walked over to the boy and pinned him by his hands before he got close to him, "Ichigo, it's time for you to move on. Or should I have the tail I've got watching that guy take him and his mother out of the picture?"

Ichigo's brown eyes widened in pure shock and dismay.

"What the hell are you-"

"I don't have any intention of hurting them. I only want you. And I think it's time you forget everything about that guy if you care about his safety. Don't forget that you're practically mine now."

"Ginjo! You're going too far! I can turn you in to Urahara and he'll have you arrested for even saying something like that!"

"What proof do you have, apart from me telling you? … I don't want things to be like this between us, you know. I didn't want to use your mother against you, and I don't' want to make the call to put a bullet through an innocent woman's head, or her retarded child."

Completely disregarding that insult, Ichigo stopped struggling when a thought crossed his mind. "Ginjo…" he said, "Answer me this."

"What is it?" said man asked, and then buried his face in the crook of the smaller boy's neck.

"Were you responsible for Grimmjow's accident last week?"

Ginjo pressed his lips against Ichigo's ear, "No, I wasn't. All I've done is have someone keep an eye on him. I guess that kid's just got enemies all over the place. You don't wanna get tangled up in his mess, do you? I thought not."

"Why should I believe that you didn't do it?" the boy asked seriously.

"Ichigo, think logically about what you're asking. If that kid were to die, then how would I keep you around?"

"…"

Ignoring the unwelcome feeling of Ginjo's warm breath on his ear, Ichigo began thinking critically for a moment.

If Grimmjow were to die… then maybe they could-

"Don't get any ideas. I'm no idiot, and the man I have watching over him is the one person in this world who is faithful to me and no one else. He'd report a faulty death or disappearance in a heartbeat. And besides… Would you really want Jaegerjaques to live a life in hiding? Would he really go along with that?"

Before he could even try to think up a response to those questions, Ichigo felt Ginjo's hand run up his shirt and the buttons being undone.

"Ginjo!"

"If you just keep quiet and endure this, everybody will live a lot longer." The raven haired man whispered before getting out of his night clothes.

He had waited long enough for this. And after getting back from his long trip where Ichigo had been stuck here with that loathsome punk, he felt like he deserved this.

Saturday morning.

Outside of Urahara's shop, Renji juggled his soccer ball in the cold weather.

He was practicing. University was approaching, just a semester away, and he needed to be in top shape if he wanted to get a decent scholarship. God knew he wouldn't get in by way of the entrance exams. He was no Ishida or Rukia, and he knew that.

When he thought about it, Senna, Inoue, and Ichigo all had amazing grades and practice exam scores. Chad also proved to everyone that he too had what it took to get into a decent university.

A few weeks ago, rumor had spread that Jaegerjaques was in two AP classes this year. Two! What the hell was up with that?! He wasn't supposed to be smart. "…Ichigo must have gotten over me really fast…" he thought as he tried to maintain his juggling pace.

Everyone around him was doing so well for themselves. He had to prove he was just as capable as they were.

How nice it would be if everyone were all to end up in college together, even Senna.

"Renji, come inside or you'll catch a cold!" Shuhei called from inside the candy shop, only having stuck his head out the front door.

"I'll come inside in a bit!"

"Don't be too long! I don't want to hear you complain if you get sick, baka…" Shuhei said and then closed the door.

"I'm not gonna get sick! My immune system is better than Inoue's!" the redhead grinned, clearly lying to himself.

Shuhei was in league with her, Ichigo, Chad, and Senna; near the top of the class in the top twenty-five, but not quite there yet. Ishida was at the top in the number one spot, Rukia earned a spot in the top ten. Jaegerjaques hadn't ranked at Karakura High on the practice, since he took it in Tokyo. This made the redhead curious to see how he'd fare.

No matter what, everyone would know who was who when the real entrance exams came around. He'd at least try to prove that he was competent.

A tug at his long-sleeved shirt caused Renji to turn, and the ball to fall from midair, hitting him on his head.

"Damnit!" he shouted.

Upon opening his previously, tightly closed eyes, he saw that it was Ichigo, and he did not look like he'd had a good night.

"Ichigo, what's wrong with you? You look terrible, man."

"Renji…"

…

After taking a seat on the back porch together, and about thirty minutes of complete silence, Renji decided he'd break the ice.

"Ichigo, what's wrong?"

"… I…"

"You've been acting weird for a long time now... Everybody notices, but no one wants to say anything. We figured you'd tell us if something was up, but apparently not..."

"Renji…" Ichigo said, his voice shaky.

"Talk, Ichigo."

Thanks to the welling up of emotions, the hiding of secrets, and the uncomfortably cold weather, Ichigo gave in and let the tears fall uncontrollably down his face.

"I- Ichigo…?"

"Renji! I don't know what to do! Grimmjow is in danger again, and I broke up with him to make sure he stayed safe… Ginjo's been blackmailing me and that's the only reason I did! It was all to keep Grimmjow happy, but he's been anything but thanks to our break up… I don't know what else to do, or who else to turn to…! I loved you before anyone else, and now I just need you to be here for me! Even if you're just a shoulder to cry on! Don't turn me away, Renji, please!"

Renji stared in shock at the orange haired boy.

He was completely speechless.

This was a side of Ichigo he wasn't used to seeing, and he didn't like it in the least.

Without realizing it, he pulled the boy into a tight hug and was grinding his teeth in pure anger.

Ichigo sobbed uncontrollably, filling Renji's chest to the brim with cold tears dropping like the rain.

"Renji…!"

"Ichigo…"

"I- I don't know anything anymore… I don't know what to do…" the boy cried, his voice mumbled by the chest his face was buried in.

Renji put his firm hands on Ichigo's shoulders and pushed him away, but still held onto them tight.

"If this is a joke, I ain't laughing. Did Senna put you up to this?"

"…"

After getting a good look at the other's face, how swollen his lips were and how red his eyes had become, he knew this was no joke.

"Ginjo is behind this?"

"I tried to do this on my own, but… *pant* I can't beat him… He's too *pant* too… He's got someone who could kill him, Renji! And he's using so much to keep us apart. I'm killing Grimmjow and I'm not even trying to!"

"I'll kill that bastard!" the tattooed man shouted and made to stand.

Ichigo quickly stopped him with both of his hands, "No! I didn't tell you this for that! *pant* I just need to tell someone I can trust…!"

"Trust… Why me? Why not Rukia?"

Ichigo took a moment to regain what he could of his composure before speaking. "… Because I still love you. And I know you love me too, Renji. You're the only man besides Grimm who I feel I could tell anything to. I'll always come to you when I can't go to him."

"Ichigo… Then… you didn't tell Jaegerjaques?"

"No, I can't! If you reacted this way, I can only imagine what he'd do!"

"Why didn't you tell Urahara about all of this?"

"Because... he's stuck his neck out for me enough... Besides, Ginjo did have proof of what Grimmjow did to him so telling him wouldn't have solved anything…"

"Even that had to have faded though, right?"

"He knew that. So he made me take a vow that I wouldn't leave him. I did it for Grimmjow's sake. So until I can find a way out, I'll have to deal with this on my own."

"You should tell the others-"

"No! And don't you say anything to anyone, please. Promise me. I don't want any of you involved in this. I don't even have a logical reason for telling you…"

Renji turned and stared at the sky for a moment, and then he looked back down to Ichigo, "Fine, I promise."

"I… I should go home… I'm sure everyone's missing me."

"You didn't stay at your house last night?"

"…"

The look on Ichigo's face said everything he wouldn't. And because of that, Renji felt his blood boiling. He kept himself in check for his friend's sake though.

"I should go… I didn't mean to burden you with all of this."

"Shut up with that kind of talk. We're friends, after all. You're staying here for the day. I'll get Tessai to make you some warm soup and you can get some rest in my bed. Shuhei and I will keep you company."

"Renji…"

"Come on. Let's go inside before we get sick."

Ichigo took a moment, but stood up and followed Renji into to the warmth of Urahara's shop. Perhaps being around them instead of moping at home with his sisters and father would be better for him.

"Renji! Your nose is running!" Shuhei angrily said when the two entered the bedroom.

"Damnit!" said man shouted and then wiped it with his sleeve.

"Ichigo, you must be sick too. Your nose is running and your eyes are red."

"Oh… It's okay. I'm sure it's nothing I can't get over."

Renji reached over and ruffled the boy's orange hair, "I'm doubly sure about that."

I felt that Ichigo's meltdown was a bit tough to write, and then tough to turn around and read, but then I realize that a meltdown isn't easy on any level whatsoever. It's a point when things are out of control and rational thinking/speaking has gone out the window. So when I think about it that way, that makes it seem more realistic to me.

As readers from different standpoints and opinions, tell me what you think about this chapter. Ginjo and Renji in particular.