Good stuff coming up I promise! Enjoy the calm(ish) before the storm! (Another build up so sorry)

A soft, calming piano was playing, bouncing off the large rooms of the house (more like mansion) lulling the orange-haired man into a hazy, hypnotic state. His elbows were resting on the shiny, black top of the grand piano vaguely watching the blunette strike the keys delicately as his mind was somewhere else.

He was supposed to be practising with Grimmjow for the final that he had made it into despite the media and the rebellious song he sung last time. Of course more than that, it was to distract him from the past few days; the days in which the albino had either been ignoring him or being brutally violent. No hitting was involved but it sometimes felt like just the intensity of anger in his voice would cause a line of scarlet on him. Ichigo still had no idea what was on his mind – like he would turn this mad just because of a small act he did on stage! No, something else was bothering him and in turn it was bothering Ichigo.

Asking Grimmjow was out of the question. Both because Shiro wasn't talking to him either and he got a little shady when the subject was brought up. Steering completely off the subject was more than a little shady – it was highly suspicious. This was pissing the berry off. What was even more annoying was that they thought keeping him in the dark was a good thing! (which he was sure that was what they were doing.)

Ichigo gazed out the window and into the dark sky that was cascading over the small town. It was going to rain. The dark grey clouds looming over head threatened to spill at anytime making the younger man growl in annoyance. Almost everything bad associated with his life happened on a day it rained. First him, his mother and now the whole business with Shiro. What was going through his head?

A deep sigh drew him out of his musings and he turned to find Grimmjow staring up at him, his fingers halted over the keys. "Sorry," he mumbled, "Did I miss my cue again?"

"Ichi," he rumbled, running a hand through his blue, tangled locks. "I stopped five minutes ago and must have called ya name at least ten times!"

"Sorry," he repeated, giving him an apologetic look. "Shall we try again?"

Grimmjow stood up from the leather stool he was sat on and walked over to the berry before leaning against the window. "We've tried more than twenty times now," he stated, ignoring how Ichigo's mocha eyes averted to the dark sky. "What's wrong?" he added as an afterthought.

"Nothing,"

Exhaling loudly, Grimmjow pushed himself off the window and slumped onto the floor making Ichigo give him a quizzical look. "I told him it was wrong – it would never work," he muttered to himself.

"What would never work? Do you mean Shiro!?" Ichigo asked frantically.

Grimmjow hesitantly nodded before patting the space next to him, offering the floor as a seat and also a silent request to listen. Ichigo complied and sat down on the polished wooden floor, his tongue instantly itching to bombard the blunette with questions. "Ya do know it's not ya fault he's avoiding ya," he started.

Ichigo nodded albeit tentatively not sure if this was a trick question or not. "He's basically punishing himself,"

"For what!?"

"What do ya think?" Grimmjow replied rather quickly. "H-he's annoyed that the media have found out and wants a better future for ya," he stumbled, making the orange-haired man narrow his eyes in suspicion.

Although by the sounds of it, there was some truth to his words. "Is that why he's pushing me away?" he whispered.

"Yes,"

That was all Ichigo basically wanted to hear. Slowly, he rose to his feet and strode over to the door, hearing a muffled 'shit' behind him before the blunette himself scrambled to his feet. "Where are ya going?" he asked, watching as Ichigo grabbed a scarf and wrapped it around his slender neck.

"Going to see Shiro?" he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Ichi - I don't think that's a good idea-!"

"Why not? Is it because there is something you're not telling me?" he asked, glaring at him.

He watched as Grimmjow stood stunned for a few seconds before trying to come up with a structured sentence but it didn't work; he ended up gaping like a goldfish. "I thought so," he commented dryly, closing the door behind him.

Ichigo took a calming breath once outside the door to compose himself but nothing could stop the fear and anxiety coursing through his veins. Luckily, Shiro and Grimmjow didn't live far apart so all it took was a five minute walk and he was there. It may not be enough time for his brain to cool down and come up with a plan but this was a spur of the moment thing and anyway, if he had time to think he would be running away.

In a matter of seconds, as it turns out, Ichigo was standing outside one of the many residents Shiro owned and all he could do was stare at the door. What if he really does hate me? he thought, ignoring the small droplets of rain that had begun to fall on his head. As if on its own accord, his hand moved towards the door and before he knew it, it was banging against the door rather violently.

When at first there was no reply he tried again, this time his knuckles turning red from the force of his knocks but still there was no reply. Maybe he's not in. Ichigo was just about to turn around when he realised that maybe the albino was still avoiding him making him glower at the door. He turned the massive handle on the door, expecting it to be locked but sighed in relief when it opened easily. Without any time for second thoughts, he entered the house.

The first thing that hit him was the revolting stench of alcohol that seemed to seep into the walls and floorboards. The last residence he had been to was fairly clean but this was like a bomb had hit. All sorts were lying a strewn ranging from simple clothes to pieces of glass from no doubt the bottles of liquor he had been downing.

Despite what it looked like on the outside, the inside of the house was fairly compact making the whole searching for him a lot more easier than expected. Although not long after he had entered, that watery voice was heard from behind the door in front of him. Ichigo stepped forward, pressing his ear to the door but only achieved in hearing some muffling. Ichigo gulped before taking the door knob and pushing gently as to not disturb the albino and peeked through the gap.

His heart still leapt in his throat when he saw him; his lithe body was beginning to thin ever so slightly making the jeans he was currently wearing hang loosely around his hips. He couldn't see but he could probably guess that the albino also had bags and shadows under his eyes, framing his tired and weary golden orbs. Pushing his form back to the rear of his mind, he pressed an ear to the small crack trying to listen to the harsh and angry words Shiro was sprouting down the phone. "Ya think I like doin' this!? Its fer ta best!"

Ichigo scrunched his nose in confusion and opened the door further to get a clearer view and sound. What's for the best? Ichigo stared at Shiro's raging face and wondered who on earth was on the other side of the phone – they were getting a right earful! Shiro pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled noisily, his frustration reaching boiling point. "Think 'bout it ya bastard! Who would want ta date someone who killed their mother and raped them!?"

Ichigo, who had been slowly moving into the room, froze. What . . . Oblivious to the orange-haired man behind him, the albino continued shouting down the phone. "We are not 'aving this discussion again! It was me, I remember as if it were yesterday! I' surprised he didn't recognise me in ta beginning!"

Ichigo flinched and slumped against the bookshelf on the wall, no longer able to hold himself up. Several books fell to the ground causing Shiro to whirl around, spotting the culprit before his eyes widened. Both stared at each other as the phone fell to the ground with a loud clank, but neither of them noticed. Ichigo glanced at his golden orbs swirling dangerously with anger and sorrow, causing them to darken and cursed himself. Now he did remember.

Who are you?

He remembered that form coming towards him in a darkened alley-way cornering him like a predator would his prey.

What do you want?

He remembered the way those pale hands had molested him on a cold, dark and rainy day; his insane smile forever curling up at the sight of him.

Get off me!

That psychotic laugh that had echoed all around them when he saw Ichigo's tears was now ringing in his ears. He could still feel his nails raking his body leaving red angry marks on his skin.

No! Help me! Please help!

Begging hadn't worked. It had made the pale monster laugh and hit harder. Sharp teeth would show from pale lips before drawing blood from him,

Ichigo?

Mom. Coming to rescue. Her voice echoed off the walls, alerting the snow coloured man on top of him making Ichigo's blood pound faster. Run he wanted to shout.

Ichigo! Get off him!

A sharp, glinting object came out, reflecting in the moonlight. He only caught it for a second before a body blocked his sight followed by the continuous flow of red that had begun to spray all over him.

Mom?

His voice finally worked but what use was that now. Feet were pounding away from him but not before he heard that monstrous laugh erupt into the night.

Mom? Mommy! Mommy!

A limp, red splattered body lay in front of him not moving; something that would haunt his dreams for years - That and the gold eyes that belonged to the person who had caused it all.

"Ichi?"

Ichigo flinched at the voice that was washing over him and backed away towards the door, his hands shaking vigorously at his sides. He looked up at Shiro, his heart beating faster when he lay eyes on those gold ones. "Get away from me," he mumbled.

Shiro shook his head as if not wanting to believe it and took a step towards him, his body now seeming a lot larger than he had once thought. Ichigo began to hyperventilate as he continued to make his way towards him before reaching out and grabbing his wrist as an attempt to pull him in and calm him. "Get off me!" he cried, tears blurring his vision just like last time he had said that to him.

Shiro flinched and reluctantly let go as Ichigo began to whimper. Before anything else could be said, Ichigo sprinted for the door wasting no time in flinging it open and running out of the house and into the cold and wet night.

It was raining now; pouring relentlessly onto him as he ran for his life to the only place that seemed safe at the minute. It was funny how Grimmjow was waiting for him at the front door almost as if he knew what had happened. Ichigo refused to believe that the blunette knew anything about this because at the minute he couldn't take any of it. So instead he ran into his welcoming arms, crying shamelessly before reaching up and kissing him.

I was going to continue this chapter . . . but that would mean less chapters until the end, which is drawing near. So instead I will leave it at this (because I am evil ;) )