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Warrior	By : NeemaAdaeze Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male > Grimmjow/Ichigo Views: 6033 -:- Recommendations : 7 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, nor do I profit from it

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Damn, a butt-load of people favored and alerted this story! Good thing my horoscope said to move forward. Though I'm not sure if they meant about the story in itself....
Warrior by Boogermeister
Chapter 2- Start Of A New Life
Grimmjow stiffened at the new home he had to live in as a slave, and he wasn't sure what to do about it until Ichigo stepped into his sight. He frowned at him, mainly out of hostility and annoyance, but the teen smiled awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head. "Um, Grimmjow, before you become my servant, we must clean you up," Ichigo explained, taking in the sight of the dirt-covered Gaul. "It won't take long, it's just that I want you to be ready for tonight's celebration."
"...." Grimmjow stared hard at him, and Ichigo frowned. He could understand that the other man didn't want to be slave in the first place but right now he doesn't have a choice in the matter, as he sighed tiredly.
"After you get cleaned, I could give you a tour of the house and show you your own room," he said. "Is that all right with you, Grimmjow?" But the man didn't respond as he glanced away. Ichigo just sighed, this was going to take a while. "Nel. Nel, are you around....?" he called out, stepping away to peek into a hallway. "Oh, Orihime, there you are," he smiled a little when a young teen girl in a pale pink stola stepped in.
She was curvy with a large bust, and long auburn hair fell over her shoulder, as she stared at Ichigo with large grey eyes. "Yes, Ichigo, you called for Nel?" she asked.
"Yes, but I'm glad you're here also," he said. "I got a new slave, and he needs to get cleaned. Can you and Nel do it?" Orihime glanced at the man, who appeared disgruntled, and smiled a little as she nodded.
"I'll try, but he doesn't look like that he wanted to be touched," she shrugged.
"I know, that's why I called Nel," he sighed. "Can you get her, please?"
"Ah, all right...." she nodded before leaving. Ichigo sighed before turning back to Grimmjow, who just stood there in the entryway. He had been quiet since leaving the city and on the road back to the countryside villa. He even sported a resentful frown, as if he hated the teen for no apparent reason.
"You know, you don't have to stand, Grimmjow," he said. "I'll lead you to the bath, if you want to." Grimmjow still frowned, and Ichigo frowned lightly. This was going nowhere. "All right.... after your bath, you will be provided with a meal. I'm sure that you'd like that, right?" At that, the blunet blinked but looked away, as if he didn't want to acknowledge the fact that he was starving. During the trading, he was given dry moldy bread that barely quell his hunger.
"Ichigo....? You're finally back, huh?" sighed Nel when Orihime returned with her. "And you brought a new friend, by the looks of it," she added when she looked at the blunet.
"Not funny, Nel," he frowned. "You think you can handle him? He seems tough to follow orders."
"Hmph, I'll try...." sighed Nel. "Don't worry, Ichigo. I can truly do this." Ichigo nodded, taking another glance at Grimmjow, before he went away. Grimmjow frowned, now he was left with two women to deal with him. No doubt that they were slaves, yet they seemed nonchalant about serving a rich family. "You, come here, we got work to do," muttered Nel, gesturing to the hallway but the man did not move.
"Maybe he doesn't understand what we're saying," shrugged Orihime. "He's probably from a foreign country that doesn't speak our langauge."
".... I understand," Grimmjow grunted, surprising them both.
"Oh, then you can understand that we were ordered to give you a bath," frowned Nel.
"I don't have to go anywhere," he frowned, mainly to himself for talking with such a hoarse voice. "And I doubt some female could force me to go, so don't you dare to try." Nel raised an eyebrow and walked up to him. Grimmjow's eyes narrowed at her in slight confusion, before she walked around him. "What're you--"
"I don't have time for this," Nel huffed, suddenly kicking him in the back. Grimmjow didn't expect such strength from a woman like her, as he fumbled to the floor. He hissed in pain but didn't dwell on it quick enough when Nel, with brute strength, grabbed onto his arm and hauled him up. "The sooner we do this, the sooner I can get it over with," she huffed.
"You....!" he growled out, but much of his voice fell out as he struggled out of her hold but weeks of immobility had hindered his own strength.
"Trust me, I can do a lot worse," frowned Nel. The man could only snarl but said nothing as he was led through the spacious hallways. He looked around, seeing mosaic-tiled murals of mundane things. Either animals in the field, or people in their houses at their own leisure. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed the auburn-haired girl Orihime following behind him with a sheepish smile.
"How are we going to do this, Nel....?" she asked. "Unless we have to hold him down...."
"Doesn't matter," Nel shrugged. "Besides, this is what Ichigo wanted. I just hope this man is up for it." Grimmjow frowned in puzzlement. What did they mean by that? "Here we go...." she sighed, when she dragged the man into a room covered in terrcotta tiles. The air in the room felt warm, with the water in the sunken bath in the center of the room was wafting out steam.
"Uh, how are we....?" Orihime muttered with uncertainty, but Nel immediately answered her question by abruptly shoving the blue-haired man into the water. Grimmjow truly hadn't expected that, as he choked and sputtered from the hot water before managing to sit up. He glared heatedly at Nel, who just stared back with slight annoyance, as his wet hair stuck around his face.
"Either you get fully naked, or you take off that loincloth you were wearing," frowned Nel. "Though it's obviously wet now...." Grimmjow growled before looking down, already some of the dirt had already came off. He glared at the green-haired slave but reluctantly reaching down to take off the wet garment. "There, wasn't that so hard?"
".... Shut it," Grimmjow growled out.
"Whatever," Nel sighed before turning to Orihime. "I think we need a clean set of clothes. And also.... his hair's matted up, so we might need a razor."
"Ah, okay," nodded Orihime and she brisked out of the room. But Grimmjow blinked before realizing what they met.
"A razor....?" he muttered in surprise.
(Blood and Sand)
"So when are we gonna see this new slave you brought, Ichigo?" Karin asked. "I bet he's weird-looking, that's why Father wouldn't let us go with you, right?" Ichigo, as he was snacking with his younger sisters in the lush garden, just shook his head.
"No.... But he's kinda scary in appearance," he muttered. "I only know that he's from Gaul, but that's just it."
"From Gaul? Just like Big Sister, Ichigo?" asked Yuzu.
"I guess, but Nel doesn't really remember much from her own country," he replied. "We told you that Nel were taken in just after Mother and Father had gotten married, when she was barely five."
"Ah, right. But I still don't get why she can't be our older sister."
"Father said that Nel was in the slave trade, so they got her as one," her twin reminded. "Even if they were to free her, they couldn't adopt her in anyway because of her status. Anyway.... does this new slave have a name, Ichigo, or did you give him one?"
"Oh, right. His name's Grimmjow," replied Ichigo.
"Strange name," Karin deadpanned.
"It's better than no name at all," he shrugged just before he heard a scuffle nearby. He glanced over his shoulder just in time, and his eyes widened in surprise. It was a the blue-haired Gaul, yet he looked completely different from the filth-covered slave earlier. For one thing, his long hair was cut, giving it a rather messy look. With the dirt finally washed off his body, his skin was giving off a lightly tan glow but his scar was still dark in comparison.
Part of it could be seen just below the collarbone, underneath the collar of a greyish-blue wool tunic. But still.... Grimmjow was sporting a very disgruntled scowl when he was being roughly pushed out by Nel, who simply frowned. Though much of his voice was limited, he growled at her but stiffened when he noticed Ichigo and two little girls. Then his eyes wandered to the table where it was full of food, and his stomach tightened hungrily at the sight.
"Ah.... Grimmjow, have you had a nice bath?" Ichigo asked. Grimmjow stared at him but scoffed as he glared away. The teen frowned, he had a feeling about that. "Nel, how did the bath go?" he asked, and Nel let out a deep sigh.
"I remember the days when I gave you baths when you were an infant," she said, "and you were always squirming and fighting. But this man.... you paled in comparison against him. I swear, it was like giving a bath to a bull with a bad temper. He wouldn't sit still for us, and Orihime and I had to wear new clean clothes afterwards because he got us wet. Then when I was about to give him a haircut, he acted as if I was gonna kill him with the razor, and-- I truly don't know what are your intentions for him, Ichigo."
"All right, all right, sorry about that," frowned Ichigo before standing up to face him. "Grimmjow.... these are my younger sisters, Karin and Yuzu," he gestured to the twins who were more or less interested at the new slave. "Though I am your master, you must give them respect. Also with my father, since he's the head of the household. Do you understand that?"
"...." Grimmjow still frowned, though his eyes wandered back to the food. It didn't look like much, mainly fruits and bread, but it looked good nonetheless. Ichigo noticed it, and put up a small smile.
"Oh, I see. You're hungry, right, Grimmjow?" he asked, and the Gaul glared back as if he had just bothered him. "Well, I could show you your room, while Nel brings you a meal. Is that all right?" Grimmjow looked at the woman, and he grimaced a little. To him, she was a bit scarier than he would admit it, and no doubt that she might do something to the food.
"Ichigo, I can't believe that you're tiring me out after only a few hours," Nel pouted. "Now you want me to bring food to this beast?"
"Would you rather have Orihime do it?" he frowned at her.
"No! She ran off in fright during the haircut incident, so there's no way to convince her!" she frowned. "Fine, I'll bring him some food, but I'm not happy about it....!" she huffed before storming back into the villa. Ichigo frowned a little before turning to Grimmjow. The blue-haired Gaul stared back resentfully, his narrowed cyan eyes followed the teen who walked past him.
"Let's go.... your room's pretty far since it's the slaves' quarters, but it's better than being holed up in a tiny cell," he said.
"Tch...." Grimmjow scoffed under his breath but it was better to go along with him rather than being gawked at by those little girls. Karin sighed tiredly and rolled around a grape with her finger.
"What do you think of him, Karin?" asked Yuzu as she took a sip of water.
"I doubt that the guy would take orders from someone with half an eyebrow, that's for sure," she mumbled.
(Blood and Sand)
Ichigo felt uncomfortable and awkward as he walked ahead of the Gaul through the hallways. It was silent between the two of them, aside from the heavy footsteps of the slave. He wanted to strike up another conversation but that wouldn't do any good, with Grimmjow pretty much ignoring him or glaring at him. He sighed, taking a brief look at him. The man was just looking down, his jaws clenched tightly with a deep frown.
".... It's over here," he muttered, pointing to a short hallway to the left with a single large door at the end. "It's kinda underground, but the quarters are separated for the men and the women," he said as he opened the door and stepped in. Grimmjow just scoffed under his breath but followed, stepping down the staircase with a few lit torches perched on the stone wall. "The men's rooms are on this side," Ichigo mentioned as he pointed to right this time, where there was a hallway. Within the hallway, there were four door openings on each side.
"...." Grimmjow frowned before being led to the last one on the left and he took a glance inside. The room was practically bare, but it had very few and basic furnitures with a wooden bed and a small table and chair. That was just it, as he cautiously stepped in. Only a small amount of sunlight were seeping in from a small barred window high in the wall, illuminating the room with natural lighting.
".... When you get used to living here, you could fix up the room any way you like it," Ichigo said, but was purposely ignored and he sighed. "So, um.... Grimmjow, I know that you don't wish to be a slave. Nobody does. But what I'm giving here is far better than any other owner would give. I don't have to tell you to be appreciative, but...."
"Ichigo....? You're over here....?" Ichigo blinked at the incoming voice, but Grimmjow stiffened in slight apprehension before Nel came into view with a tray full of food. "There you are.... sorry about this, but I asked Orihime to carry a pitcher full of water," she frowned lightly. "She's still scared of him, though."
"Great," frowned Ichigo. "Orihime don't have to do this. She can just leave the pitcher here and get outta here."
"You hear that? Hurry up, Orihime," Nel called out over her shoulder. At that, the teen slave scurried into the room and placed the clay pitcher onto the table before hurrying back out. "Thanks, dear....!"
"You don't have to stay either, Nel," muttered Ichigo.
"I'm not planning to," she frowned. "I have enough of being near this man for one day."
"You do realize that you're gonna see him around for many more days to come, right?"
"I know, that's the problem...." frowned Nel but she blinked when the Gaul slowly walked up to the table. Both she and Ichigo went still when he gazed at them then at the pitcher of water before he picked it up with his large hands. "Uh, if you want some water, a cup is right here--"
But Grimmjow didn't really care as he immediately placed the object to his lips and took enormous gulps of the cool liquid. Ichigo and Nel just blinked in utter amazement at the sight, as they stared at the large adam's apple bobbing at each gulp. ".... Hahh...." Grimmjow breathed in relief, his throat feeling better from the much needed water as he glanced down at the now empty pitcher. His stomach soon tightened when he then glanced at the food and thrusted the pitcher at Nel's face. ".... Give me more, woman," he muttered.
"Tch, I have a name, you know," huffed Nel, placing the food down on the table before snatching the pitcher from his hand. "I swear, wild boars have better manners than him...." she grumbled under her breath, leaving the room. Ichigo sighed before he looked at Grimmjow, who eyed the food with some scrutiny.
"Uh, I know Nel can be scary, but she wouldn't go as far as poisoning food on you," he tried to assure. Grimmjow frowned at him, but plopped heavily onto the chair. The food seemed far better than the moldy bread he was forced to consume, as he stared at the bowl full of some kind of meat stew. He tentatively picked up the spoon nearby and placed it inside the food. But as he took the first bite, he paused at first.... before immediately wolfing down the entire dish.
"Uh, wait a minute, you can't just scarf down something so hot! You'll burn your throat like that!" Ichigo exclaimed in surprise. But the man didn't seem to pay attention, as he slurped up the last of the stew. He stared at the empty bowl, then at Ichigo, who blinked at him, before thrusting the bowl at the teen.
"Get me some more...." he muttered. Ichigo blinked at his demand before frowning in disbelief.
"A-ah, no, you don't ask your own master to bring you food!" he frowned. "If you want some more, just kindly ask for it and ask it to any other servants! Not to me!"
".... As if I'll accept you as my master," frowned Grimmjow. An annoyed tick suddenly throbbed in the teen's temple, as he scowled. Now that the man was finally talking, it was only to talk in disrespect at anyone now.
"Doesn't matter, I bought you so you're my own slave now," he scoffed. "You should be at least grateful that I'm giving you food and board."
"Tch, you're talking like I'm a stray dog you had taken in," huffed Grimmjow.
"Well, from how you're acting lately, you probably are one," scoffed Ichigo. "I won't tolerate your behavior, Grimmjow. It's either you obey me or I'll send you back to the slave traders. You got that?" At that, Grimmjow narrowed his eyes at the threat and his body tensed up to go at him. But he couldn't, because Nel came back with the pitcher full of water.
"Something the matter, Ichigo?" she asked, when she noticed the tension.
"No, just that Grimmjow's having a problem with me being his master," frowned Ichigo.
"I have a question," muttered the Gaul, and the two glanced at him. "Why is that woman okay with being your servant? And why doesn't she call you master, if you are her master?"
"It's not 'woman', my name's Nel," scoffed Nel. "I don't have to call him master because I helped raise Ichigo since he was a baby, and he's been my friend ever since."
". . . . Why would your master be your friend?" he frowned. "If anything, a slave master should be abusive, as I assumed it to be."
"Hhmph, I believe he was whacked in the head during the trade if he believes something like that," she huffed before placing the pitcher on the table. "Here's your water, is there anything else you want?"
"Yeah, some more food," he demanded, holding the bowl up. Nel scoffed and took it, leaving the room.
"Ichigo, house-train that man-beast, before tonight's celebration....!" she scoffed. Ichigo frowned, but Grimmjow barely quirked an eyebrow as he drank from the pitcher.
"What sort of celebration....?" he questioned after chugging half of the water.
"Oh.... today's my sixteenth birthday," muttered Ichigo. "It's the day that I become an adult, and my family is giving me a party. So.... have you had something like that before? Like a coming-of-age celebration?" Grimmjow said nothing as he reached up to touch his newly cropped hair. His mind fluttered to his past, only to grimace in disgust as he scoffed.
"Why should you care? You're just a spoiled Roman brat, for all I give a fuck," he scoffed in agitation. Ichigo flinched slightly from his blunt comment and frowned, maybe he should have expected that.
".... You will accompany me tonight," he muttered as he turned to leave. "If you resist my orders, then Nel will come to get you. You experienced her strength from earlier, right?"
Grimmjow stiffened from the rememberance and he scoffed. "Where a woman like her even came from?" he frowned.
"From Gaul.... like you," replied Ichigo as he left. Grimmjow glanced up in surprise at his answer, but the teen was already gone. He frowned, but his mind dwelled on it. It was possible.... many women in his tribe could hold their own plus more, even hunting if they needed to.
(Blood and Sand)
Maybe he should have seen this in hindsight, but Grimmjow regretted not heeding his young master's warnings as Nel dragged him by the scuff of his collar. So far, he had done nothing after eating, only lying on the bed with a thin mattress stuffed with straw. It was better than hunching over with what little sleep he had throughout the slave trade. But he wouldn't openly admit that he relished from the basic luxury. By doing so, he believed that he would relent being a slave.
So he laid there and slept deeply until dusk settled in the horizon, his dreams empty saved for the few flashbacks of his men. He frowned in his sleep, as the flashbacks kept coming back as his friends being slaughtered by the Roman army. And he couldn't forget the smug leader, who was the reason that gave him the scar in the first place. How he wanted to get him, to decapitate his head from his body and laugh as blood gushes out like a crimson fountain.
But the dream was abruptly interrupted, when he was pulled out of the bed and he landed hard on the stone floor. "Ahh! Fuck....!" he hissed out in pain, his eyes opened widely as he took in the darkness of the room. But his sight the took in a silohuette of.... someone before he was grabbed at the front of his tunic.
"Good evening, Man-Beast." It was Nel, who gave him a seemingly threatening smile. "You were supposed to be in the atrium over a half an hour ago.... Now I have to get you because you were busy snoring like a bull. I swear, I can't believe that I'm wasting my time for you."
".... Then leave me alone, you didn't have to get me," he grumbled, but he was pulled up to his feet and was dragged out, much to his surprise. "Hey, woman, let go of me....!" he growled as he grabbed her wrist. But as he did so, Nel gave him a deadly glare, and he stiffened by it. No doubt that the woman had the blood of a Gaul, but he didn't think much of it as he was dragged out of the slaves' quarters. The blackish-blue color of the night was evident, as torches on the walls were now lit.
"I have so much things to do for tonight, and yet I was tasked to get you," grumbled Nel, leading him through the hallways. "If you ruin this for Ichigo, you're gonna be sorry, you got that?"
"Tch, do I need to care....?" frowned Grimmjow but he was glared at once again.
"You should.... how the slaves behave reflects on our masters," Nel frowned back. "If we were to disrespect their guests, it would embarrass them and their reputations. And because of that, we would be punished."
"Punished how?"
"Would you like to know, or would you prefer to experience it firsthand if you misbehave tonight?" she threatened. Grimmjow's eyebrows tensed at the comment, he wasn't sure if he wished to know about the punishments. He was pulled into a smaller hallway, and his frown deepened when he heard voices and laughter.
"Let go of me, I won't run away," he said. Nel huffed but did so, giving him one more glance at him.
"I have to return to the kitchen now," she frowned. "All you have to do is to stand in the corner until Ichigo calls for you. Is that simple enough, or do I have to draw you a picture?"
"Tch, you're such a troublesome woman," he scoffed.
"And you're just as troublesome," Nel frowned before walking away. Grimmjow growled under his breath, before glancing at the nearby doorway that was emitting light. He could care less about the teen's celebration, but by disobeying his master he might be punished for it. And by the way Nel said it, he didn't really want to find out. He slowly stalked up to the entrance of the room and peeked in, and his eyes gazed at the people with so much distrust.
Compare to him and his shabby outfit of a wool tunic and crude leather sandals, the people in the room wore the best clothing made of linen and silk, with the women wearing finest gold jewelry and wigs. He looked again, before his sight settled on the orange-haired teen who wore an outfit similiar to the others, a royal purple synthesis.
His so-called master seemed to be happy, conversing with other people with some enthusiasm. He just frowned, he didn't want to be around the likes of those crowds. "....Ah! You're the new person Ichigo brought in!" Grimmjow stiffened and glanced down, and saw the little brown-haired girl that he had noticed earlier. "What's the matter? Are you shy or something?" she asked innocently, though the Gaul stared back and was unsure what to do about her. "It's all right....!" she smiled warmly. "Ichigo's not a bad guy, so there's no reason to hide out here!"
"Uh....!" Grimmjow blinked in surprise when the girl grasped his hand and led him into the atrium. It wasn't like he could move away from her touch, and nobody seemed to notice him at first until they reached up to the teen.
"Ichigo, your new friend came....!" she called out, and Grimmjow stiffened again when Ichigo turned and saw him. "See, guess Nel came to get him after all!"
"All right, Yuzu, you can leave us alone now," smiled Ichigo. His younger nodded and went away, but Grimmjow stood still out of animosity now that a few pairs of eyes were on him. He could tell that he was being scrutinized closely by these roman elites. "Grimmjow....?" Ichigo said, and the blunet stared at him "Uh, no need to feel odd here. I only called you because some of my father's friends wished to see who you are, that's all."
"Tch...." Grimmjow frowned, and glared at one brunet man who was standing behind Ichigo.
"I see.... so this is the slave you've purchased, Ichigo," he muttered with a small smirk. "He seems a little.... hostile, don't you think so?"
"It's all right, Aizen," Ichigo put up a sheepish smile. "He's only that way because Nel had to handle him all day, that's why he's a bit disgruntled."
"Relying on the strength of a foriegn woman, as usual," he remarked, patting the teen on the shoulder. "You have any idea where this one's from?"
"Yes, from Gaul."
"Gaul....? That reminds me, my nephew should have been back from that region days ago after his tour of duty there," Aizen said. "He did reply that he was coming here for your celebration."
"Oh.... he's coming too?" Ichigo frowned a little, but the senator just smiled.
"I know you two have some differences, but he's only coming to wish you well," he said. "Besides, he needs to focus on his military career rather than bothering you all the time." Almost immediately, Grimmjow jolted at a certain word and his frown tightened. Did he say military....?
"Ah, right, Grimmjow.... you don't have to stand right here," Ichigo noted before nudging the Gaul to the nearest corner. "Here.... stay right here until I call for you, all right?" he requested.
".... Whatever...." he huffed.
"And you can't talk like that, not around here," he frowned. "You'll get into serious trouble if you dare to talk to anyone else here like that. You understand that?" Grimmjow just frowned and looked away, and the teen just sighed but walked away anyway. But as soon as he moved away, the blunet glanced at the chesnut-haired man and his eyes narrowed.
The man had mentioned that his nephew was in the military, and that he was in Gaul for some time. He wasn't sure if that was the same military that had gotten him enslaved in the first place. He wondered about questioning that man, but stayed silent, knowing that he couldn't because of his now lowly status. So he decided to let his gaze linger around the room. He looked up to notice that the ceiling had a large rectangular opening in the center then he looked down and saw a small pool of water of the same size. It was such a strange design to him, he wasn't sure what was the purpose of it.
He turned his head slightly to see Nel serving food to the nobles, and he blinked in mild surprise that she was doing it with her head bowed slightly and her expression lessened into a docile nature. It was a far cry from the barbaric, aggressive woman he knew from earlier. So that was it, maybe she herself was afraid to be reprimanded by Ichigo. His attention shifted back to Ichigo, who scowled from being hugged by some older man the teen called father, he remembered him from the ride to the villa. It was just as strange, that man was stoic and serious when he first saw him but now he was acting rather eccentric.
".... Can't believe those people are my masters," he grumbled under his breath before looking away. He doesn't need to dwell much of it, as he tuned out the sounds for now.
"Father, calm down....! You're making a nuisance of yourself again," Ichigo huffed, getting out of his father's hold. "I get it, I'm a man now but you don't have to make a fuss over it. It shouldn't be that big of a deal to you."
"But, Ichigo....!" whined Isshin, as he hugged him again much to his son's dismay. "It won't be long until you go away and find a girl and have a family with many, many kids--"
"That's not gonna happen anytime soon, Father!" he scowled as he pushed him away again. "I have plenty of time to do that, so quit worrying!"
"Well, your son's right about that, Isshin," Aizen smirked lightly. "But in a couple of years, he'll decide what to do before following your footsteps."
"Of course.... right now, I just wanna make use of my investment," he sighed, taking a brief glance at Grimmjow. "Though I think it might be hard to control him for now...."
"That's all right, Ichigo, it'll take time anyway," smiled Isshin. "Once he warms up to you, maybe he'll be eager to the offer."
"Let's hope so...."
"Ichigo.... my, you haven't change since I last saw you." Ichigo stiffened at the deep voice before he felt his shoulders being draped by a heavy arm. He looked up and frowned when he saw the last person he had least expected. The man smirked, with his sepia eyes narrowing with delight, as he reached to ruffle the teen's orange hair. "So you're an official citizen now, huh? Guess that means you're ready for the real world," he smirked before being nudged away.
"I don't see why you have to be here, I assumed you'd be at a brothel for all we know," frowned Ichigo. But the man just chuckled, flipping back his wavy black hair before gazing at him. "Must you really be here, Ginjou, because I only invited your uncle and not you," he frowned as he crossed his arms. "I told you many times that I do not like you--"
"You only don't like me because you won't admit to my charms," Ginjou smiled with a chuckle, and Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"What charms....? You'd bed any person if you show off a few coins to them," he huffed.
"Ah, but for you...." the other man smirked, snaking an arm around his lithe waist as he leaned closer to his ear. "I prefer it for free with you, Ichigo. I was just waiting for you to become.... legal, I suppose," he whispered in a sickly sweet manner. Ichigo shuddered in slight disgust and pushed him away, glancing around to see that his father and Aizen were pre-occupied among themselves.
"If my father were to hear that, Ginjou...." he scowled lowly as he glared at him.
"But you're free to do whatever you want, Ichigo, so you shouldn't be ashamed of what I've just said," Ginjou smirked lightly.
"Well I beg to differ," he scoffed, but the man chuckled again before turning to look at him face to face. Meanwhile, Grimmjow looked up, seeing that Nel was still in a docile mode as she continued serving the rich patrons. He frowned, there was no way that he could swallow his pride to do one's bidding. Yet the woman acted as if she had pride despite being a slave. He found that confusing, he didn't get why she was very willing to serve the teen and his family. He watched her moving gracefully over to Ichigo, when he blinked at the sight.... and then his cyan eyes in total shock.
He saw a familiar-looking man, dress in a dark red synthesis, talking to Ichigo across the room. But the man's back was turned to his sight.... yet he recognized the form and his hair color as his body went rigid in alarm. His heartbeats thumped audibly through his chest, and his pupil dilated like a rabid animal before the man finally turned around. He stared at him.... and he suddenly growled out in pure rage.
It was him. The man who killed his friends right in front of him before selling him into slavery.
His vision went red in anger as he suddenly stalked towards the distracted man, ignoring the alarmed and startled guests nearby, as his fists clenched tightly. He gritted his teeth, and he didn't care about anything else but taking pure vengance on the man. But it couldn't happen, because just as he reached a few meters from the man with a raised fist, Nel came out of nowhere and swiftly kicked him right at his ankles. "Ughh....!" he stuttered before stumbling into the shallow pool, cold water completely drenching his clothes and hair before he quickly stumbled to his knees.
"Grimmjow? Grimmjow, what just happened?" Ichigo frowned in confusion yet in a scolding manner. Grimmjow snarled and glared up at Nel, who glared back but put up a reassuring smile at Ichigo.
"My apologies, sir. I believe that the new slave wanted to ask you something, but he must've lost his footing," she excused. But Grimmjow growled through gritted teeth as he turned his head to glare at the black-haired man, who frowned in slight disgust.
"You....!" he gritted, and both Ichigo and the man blinked when the Gaul jabbed an accusing finger at the latter. "It was you....! You're the one who destroyed my life!" Silence fell down immediately in the atrium and Ichigo felt his heartbeats froze when he glanced at Ginjou. But Ginjou just scoffed in disbelief before smirking.
".... I don't believe I would remember such a wet mongrel like you," he commented.
"It was you! You were the one who murdered my men and sent me into slavery....!" snarled Grimmjow, not caring about the shock murmuring of the other people. "I can never forget that fucking sneer on your face when you had them slaughtered, you bastard! You don't remember, when you killed them all?" Ichigo frowned in shock, while Nel froze and wasn't sure what to do in this situation. It hadn't happened like this before.
"Tch.... Ichigo, you better tame this beast," smirked Ginjou. "There's no telling what he could do to sully your family's reputation. Unless you wish to be ridiculed for the rest of your life...."
"Ah...." Ichigo mumbled but he was right when other eyes settled onto him. A slave who misbehave would hurt the social status of their master, as his fist shook with burning anxiety.
"You think.... you think I'll let you get away with it?" snarled Grimmjow as he stuggled to his feet. He hadn't expected that woman's attack would be that harsh on his body but he didn't care for the moment. "I swear on my life that I'll get back at you, you fucker! I--"
SMACK!
Grimmjow inhaled sharply at the sudden pain on his cheek when his head suddenly whipped to the side. He breathed through his nostrils before glaring up at who assaulted him, but he was surprised at who it was. Ichigo glared down at him as he breathed deeply, his opened hand shook from the stinging aftermath as he raised it to strike him if necessary.
"You be quiet right now, slave...." the teen gritted lowly, and Grimmjow flinched slightly at his demanding tone. But the blunet growled angrily as he attempted to get up.
"You dare--"
"I said, be quiet!" Ichigo yelled out, before backhanding him across the face again. Grimmjow grunted from the strike and fell back, gritting his teeth from the harsh pain. "You.... don't you ever dare to disrepect our guests like that, you fucking slave!" Ichigo scowled angrily. "Your attitude is way beyond forgivable tonight! I should've expected better from you, slave, but since you decided to behave like a mad man, I have no choice but to send you away!" Grimmjow scrunched his eyebrows in utter puzzlement, he had never thought that the teen would react this way, that he could even raise his hand at him let alone yelling at him.
But he was snapped out of his brief daze when he was grabbed by his collar and was hauled out of the pool by none other than Nel. "Nel, see to it that he stays in his room," Ichigo commanded. "Tie him down to his bed if you have to."
"Yes, sir...." Nel answered in a subdued manner before hauling stunned Grimmjow to his feet. The Gaul took one last glare at Ginjou, who smirked smugly, before he was dragged out of the room. Ichigo inhaled deeply and rubbed his hand, ignoring the murmurs among the guests, before he realized what he had done. He had never done that before to any of the servants. He remembered seeing such an abuse on slaves when he had visited other people's houses, but he had never thought that he would do it just like them. Taking him out of his stupor, Ginjou let out a soft chuckle.
"Ah.... as a matter of fact, I did remember such a barbarian like him, I just didn't recognize him at first," he muttered, and Ichigo blinked before staring at him in disbelief.
"You remembered....? Then, what he said was....?" the teen muttered, but Ginjou scoffed in amusement.
"His group of mongrels were asking for it," he smirked. "They questioned the military's authority when we confronted them, so we had no choice but to silence them. But.... I guess you wouldn't understand the true purpose, considering that you're too naive for your own good to know about the army," he added, patting Ichigo's shoulder. But Ichigo frowned at him before looking away. Even if Grimmjow had nearly ruined the night, he wondered if his behavior was the reasonable result for the man's actions.
All the while, Grimmjow was tossed to the hard bed after Nel pushed him into the underground room. He was livid by what had played out just moments earlier, yet he couldn't get a chance to lash out at the army's leader. Mainly because of the fact that Ichigo had literally struck him by surprise, and that Nel had to drag him back to the servant's quarters. He snarled at her, but Nel wasn't bristled by him as she stomped up to him. Despite being wet from the water pool, he stood up and towered over her as he snarled angrily.
"Get the fuck out of my way, woman....!" he snarled.
".... Do you really think that I'm threatened by that?" Nel muttered lowly with her hazel eyes narrowed. "You dare to ruin our master's celebration--"
"Like I would give a fuck," he scoffed. "I know who I saw, and now I wanna kill for what he did to me. So unless you wish to get your legs snapped off, you better stay outta my way."
"No," Nel frowned, standing her ground firmly. "Ichigo said to tie you down if needed, and I intend to obey him." At that, Grimmjow sneered as she glared down at her.
"Is that right, you damn bitch....?" he questioned.
"What did you say?" she muttered though her expression stayed indifferent.
"You heard me, you better get out of my fucking way or else--"
THWACK!
Grimmjow collasped back to the bed, his vision blinded by the sudden and very brutal punch that had snapped his head to the side. He felt immensely dazed, and couldn't fight off when his wrist was grabbed and being bound to the bed post. Nel huffed out a deep sigh as she tightened the thick cloth before frowning at Grimmjow, who was subsequently knocked out from the punch. She stood up straight, and then frowned in sadness and sympathy. She understood his ordeal.
It was a very long time ago, but she remembered her older brothers being slaughtered when her tribe tried to oppose against the Roman army. She was spared with a few other surivors, only to be sold into slavery. In her mind, since being taken in by Ichigo's family with such kindness, she felt that it was better to be a slave for them rather than being left for dead. ".... You're a fool," she muttered softly before turning to leave. "There's nothing you can do about it except to survive."
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Grimmjow grunted as he slowly opened his eyes, dull pain throbbing in his jawline as well as in his head. He blinked when he stared up at the ceiling, before realizing that one of his wrists was tied to the bed. He frowned and tried to yank at the cloth, but it was too thick to rip so easily. That woman had actually done it, and he huffed in agitation.
".... Uh, Nel really tied it too tight, huh?" Grimmjow stiffened at the quiet voice and sat up, Ichigo was sitting on the wooden chair from across the room. His guilty face illuminated softly by a lit candle flickering on the table, as the teen gazed at him. "How are you feeling, Grimmjow?" he asked tiredly.
".... You must be out of your damn mind to dare to ask me that question," Grimmjow muttered lowly. Ichigo frowned but nodded a little.
"I didn't have a choice, Grimmjow," he said. "I have to punish you. I couldn't let you make a destruction in my father's house."
"Tch, you think I should give a damn about what happens to you?"
"On the contrary, you should give a damn about yourself," Ichigo argued, and Grimmjow blinked in slight confusion. "Kuugo Ginjou.... he's a member of the Roman army, but he's more than that. He's a praetor, a type of imperial administrator as well as a commander of the army assigned to him, who has the power to deliver justice to ciminals and such."
"Deliver justice....? Do you believe that he was in the right for what he did to me?" Grimmjow frowned angrily, but Ichigo shook his head.
"He often abuses his powers and the only time he does his job is when senators demand for his job," he replied. "Grimmjow.... I understand what Ginjou did was wrong--"
"No, you could never understand, you stupid brat," Grimmjow growled and the teen flinched slightly from that. "That man had my bethren executed right in front of me, like it was a game to him. He was the one gave me this fucking scar, and sent me into this slavery. And what did I found out....? That my so-called master was talking with that damn fucker, as if they didn't care what ordeal he had put me through. Can you understand that, brat?" Ichigo frowned sadly before he stood up and walked up to him, much to the Gaul's not so subtle dismay.
".... I'm sorry.... I didn't know that you went through something like that," he muttered softly. Grimmjow just scoffed at his apologies, as if he would take Ichigo's pity. But the teen leaned down to work on the knots.
"What're you doing?" growled Grimmjow.
"Nel didn't have to tie it so tightly...." Ichigo muttered, but after a while he managed to loosen the knot on the Gaul's wrist as well on the wooden post. "There it go...." he sighed when the cloth finally loosened enough for the other man to take off the bind. "Isn't that better, Grimmjow--"
"You really are a fucking fool....!" gritted Grimmjow, suddenly grabbing Ichigo by the front of his dining clothes, as he stood up. The orange-haired teen gasped in shock and fright, feeling absolute fear by his piercing glare. "I don't need your pity, Roman! I will never accept to being a slave for someone like you! Especially since you're friends with someone like that bastard....!"
"B-but, he's not my friend, Grimmjow....!" Ichigo stammered. Grimmjow's eyes widened a little but he narrowed them as he growled lowly.
"You're lying--"
"No, no! He's only a nephew of my father's friend! I had never liked him....!" Ichigo explained. The blue-haired slave frowned and stared at the anxious brown eyes. The teen was telling the truth, he scoffed as he bluntly pushed him away. "It's true, Grimmjow, I don't like Ginjou," he frowned lightly. "He's nothing but an arrogant man who cares about climbing through the social classes because of his uncle. That's all I can say, Grimmjow...."
"Tch, then why was he here, if you don't like him?" he questioned.
"I told you, it's because of his uncle, who happens to be a high-ranking senator," muttered Ichigo.
"What makes you different from him?"
"My family's from the equestrian class and we ranked lower than the senatorial class," he explained. "Many times, we cannot disrepect them, Grimmjow. That's why I had to punished you earlier." Grimmjow just growled before sitting down on the bed, his sharp gaze stayed on the teen as he rubbed at his sore wrist.
"Yet you wouldn't understand what I've been through," he muttered. "Do you have any idea what's it like to have someone die right in front of you? At that, Ichigo frowned sadly before glancing away, crossing his arms loosely.
"Of course.... my mother died of a fever when I was only nine," he muttered softly. Grimmjow blinked but huffed and continued to rub his wrist.
".... I still have no intention of accepting you as my master, no matter how nice you treated me," he muttered quietly.
"Well.... maybe if you think about my offer for you, maybe you'll consider accepting me as your master," Ichigo sighed. Grimmjow glanced at him but just scoffed in denial. "Grimmjow, the only reason that I brought is because.... you seem perfect for the one thing that I want you to be." The Gaul quirked an eyebrow, but he still frowned.
"Really? What am I gonna be aside from being your slave?" he scoffed. Ichigo fidgeted a little before taking a deep sigh.
"I want you.... to be a gladiator, Grimmjow," he admitted. Grimmjow blinked at him and then blinked again before frowning.
"What the hell is a gladiator....?" he questioned.
"Ah, I knew you wouldn't really know about it," sighed Ichigo. "A gladiator.... is a contestant, who fights others in an arena using swords and other weapons. And often, they would fight to the death...." Grimmjow just stared at him, as if he spewing nonesense in another language. What was this teen talking about? "Grimmjow, I assumed that you used to fight with a sword, right?"
"What a ridiculous question, what do you think?" grumbled Grimmjow. But Ichigo smiled a little from the blunt answer.
"Good, that's a start," he said. "But first things first, though, you have to learn how to fight in certain styles. Where you're from.... Gaul-style fighting is okay but it's considered old-fashioned here in Rome. But it shouldn't matter for now. Many other styles could be fitting for you, Grimmjow, and it won't be long until you're in the arena."
".... Tell me this," muttered Grimmjow. "You want me to get strong and fight others with weapons.... Aren't you afraid that I might go against you if I become this gladiator thing?" Ichigo stared at him for a moment, but just shrugged.
"You'll warm up to me, Grimmjow," he replied. "I don't think you honestly hate me just because I'm a Roman."
"Tch, you're a naive one, I'll give you that," frowned the blunet. Ichigo just nodded before turning to leave.
"I'll arrange for your training tomorrow," he muttered. "Don't worry, Grimmjow, I'm not as bad as you think I am...." Grimmjow scoffed, as the teen left the room. He narrowed his eyes slightly, he didn't want to trust him but if he was promised to fight other opponents and to use dangerous weapons.... For the first time in weeks, he put up a small smirk as he gazed down at his lap.
Maybe if he played the obedient slave for a while, he might get closer to Ginjou if given a chance. He doesn't need to trust Ichigo's motives for him, as long as he would get that one opportunity to make his precise move and take out that man once and for all.
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