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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
After watching 'Spartacus' a butt-load of times.... I've decided to get 'Xena', since the lady who played her is in 'Spartacus'. Plus, I wanna watch my favorite psuedo-lesbian action show! Yay, Xena! But I'm not gonna get it anytime soon, though....
Warrior by Boogermeister
Chapter 6- Honor and Servitude
Even under the evening sky, the humid air lingered as Grimmjow wiped his face away from sweat. Several days had passed since he'd resumed training, his body ached to the point of pain all because he had to train twice as hard. All because he had to return back to the villa at night. He sat on the sandy ground, his body hunched over with his grip on the hilt of the wooden sword. He wanted to just lay there and rest, but he heard his master walking up to him. He didn't want to look, but he knew that the teen was gazing down at him.
".... You're all right, Grimmjow?" he asked. Grimmjow looked up at him and frowned tiredly, he was annoyed by the same question over and over again but didn't have enough energy to argue. "Come on, it's getting late, and we need to get back to the villa," he sighed.
Grimmjow could only huff before standing up. Joints in his bones popped as he stretched, before ambling his way to the underground chambers. Ichigo stared after him, noticing that more muscles were developing in the Gaul's body and he was more well-toned. It meant that the training was getting better by the day, and when the next game starts, Grimmjow would be a far better fighter. He blinked when Grimmjow came back with his tunic on, smudges of dirt and bruises evident on his face but he didn't bother to clean up as he walked up to the teen.
"You sure that you don't wanna clean up before--" Ichigo began to ask.
"Let's go," Grimmjow mumbled gruffly, walking past him. Ichigo frowned but followed after him. At the end of the day, the slave would still put up an attitude.
"See you later, Ichigo....!" Urahara called out from the balcony.
"All right, Urahara...." sighed Ichigo. He walked ahead of Grimmjow, who yawned loudly, as they left the ludus. A sliver of sunlight was still in the horizon, when they left the edge of the city. "Come...." the teen said, motioning for an empty carriage nearby. He got on first then Grimmjow sat across from him, just before the ride started. Ichigo stared at the Gaul before relaxing in his seat, but frowned a little when the other man practically plopped his legs up as he prepared to doze.
"You've been doing that since last week," he muttered, and Grimmjow peeked his eye open. Even under fatigue, the glare was a bit unsettling to Ichigo.
"I'm tired, can't I be comfortable?" mumbled Grimmjow.
"It's not that, it just seems rather informal to sit in the carriage like that," Ichigo frowned lightly. Grimmjow scoffed a little, with a slight smirk, as he closed back his eye.
"Sorry for not knowing the etiquette of carriage riding," he mumbled. "The last time I've been in one, I was sent here with chains and long ratty hair...." At that, Ichigo's frown deepened but said nothing about his comment. What could he say about that? He knew of him being condemned to slavery by Ginjou, but he hadn't asked him the trading he had to endure. But before he thought to do so, he heard soft snoring coming from the Gaul. The teen frowned again, but let it go as he gazed at him for a while.
Even asleep, Grimmjow appeared defensive around him with his eyebrows tensing together. But he also looked rather relaxed for the pleasure of sleep, with his usual frown lessened and his body slumped back in his seat. The light of the waning moon peeked through the window, making his earrings glinted once in a while. Ichigo finally glanced away, his fingers clenched at his toga over his lap. He wondered about that day about the salesman trying to haggle him jewelry for a girl. In truth.... he had no desire for girls.
Ginjou already knew of his sexuality ever since they first met, even though it was unnoticed by everybody else. It wasn't new that many Roman men favored both genders, but for a nobleman, having a wife to pass down the family line was a must. Even so, the thought of being tied down with a woman was discomforting to him. He preferred platonic friendships with them like Nel and Orihime and the magistrate's sister Rukia. Even so, Ginjou was right about him being a virgin, ignorant of what was it like to take desire and pleasure.
".... We're there yet?" Ichigo jolted and glanced at Grimmjow, who opened his eyes slightly.
"Ah, in a moment, Grimmjow," he muttered.
"Hmm, and tomorrow's another same bullshit," Grimmjow mumbled sleepily. "How is it gonna be different this time....?" With that, he fell back asleep. Ichigo blinked, wondering if Grimmjow meant that he wanted a different method of training.
"Guess I can ask Urahara about it...."
(Blood and Sand)
Ichigo was surprised, to say the least, when he noticed a familiar person near the ludus the next day. Grimmjow was just as surprised, but only noticed Renji conversing with a petite black-haired woman clad in a light blue stola and opal earrings. The Gaul wondered if that's the red-head's master, but didn't openly question it when his own master walked up to them. "Rukia....!" he called out, and the petite woman glanced up to see him. "Rukia, I haven't seen you for a while," he smiled.
"Me either with you, Ichigo," smiled Rukia with a nod.
"Finally, I get to see you up close, Ichigo!" smiled Renji, playfully ruffling at the teen's hair and Ichigo huffed. "You've grown a lot since the start of the year. Now you're playing grown-up by sending your little fighter here!"
"You wouldn't act so tough with Byakuya around, Renji, quit it!" frowned Ichigo as he patted his hand away. Grimmjow watched Renji, whose tattoos were cloaked by his taupe-colored tunic, being nonchalant with a nobleman like Ichigo. And yet he was often scolded whenever he would make a backhanded comment at anyone. And often scolded by Nel herself. "Grimmjow, come here.... this is Rukia, the magistrate's sister," Ichigo said. "Renji's master is the magistrate, by the way."
Grimmjow frowned lightly but walked up to him, noticing that Renji's smirking demeanor quickly changed into that of a serious scrutiny. Seemed that the high-class woman was nothing to be disrespectful to. "Ah, Brother had told me about your fighter's first win a few days back," smiled Rukia, glancing over at the Gaul. "He told me that.... he beheaded his opponent and held it up as if it was a prized possession and marched around the arena with it. Is that really true?"
"Well, Grimmjow was losing at first but he gained the upper hand in the end," Ichigo smiled sheepishly.
"So he really did chop that man's head off," she concluded.
"Yeah, that's really true," he nodded. "But he won anyway, right, Grimmjow?"
"Of course, and I'll fucking kill again if I have to," scoffed Grimmjow, hearing Renji inhaling through his teeth. Guess that wasn't the appropriate answer in front of the magistrate's sister.
".... He means that should he have no choice during his next fight, then he will kill in order to win, Mistress," Renji quickly corrected. Grimmjow glanced at him, earning a narrowed glare from the other man. Ichigo frowned at him as well, but Rukia doesn't seem to be insulted as she laughed a little.
"Well, I heard that he's a Gaul, so that should be expected," she shrugged. "Anyway, I was only here to see the ludus for myself, especially now that you're around."
"But does Byakuya know of you coming here?" Ichigo asked playfully, and Rukia pouted. "My, if the magistrate were to know if his little sister coming here to the ludus unattended, surrounded by blood-crazed fighters--"
"I didn't come unattended, I got Renji here!" she grumbled.
"But does Byakuya know that Renji took you here?"
"I-I got his permission....!" As they stepped through the gate, Grimmjow began to follow suit but was halted when Renji placed his hand against his chest.
"Remember what I told you about having your tongue cut off if you talk back to those of higher status?" he questioned quietly, and the Gaul blinked at that. "If my master was present here with Rukia when you had said that to her, he'd order it personally." Grimmjow bristled slightly at that but frowned as he glared at him.
"And what can my own master do about it, if it were to happen?" he questioned.
"Outside the walls of his father's villa or anyone else's, pretty much nothing," he pointed out. "Obviously, you don't know what a magistrate is, Gaul. My master's a high government official, second only to the Senate, he could order out your execution even if you're someone else's slave. Take that to note, unless you are really asking for death with such a behavior like yours."
".... Fine, sorry for biting my words out to the sister of your lover," huffed Grimmjow. Renji glared at him for a moment before snorting out a chuckle and shaking his head.
"I was being serious, and then you brought that up....!" he smirked. "Seriously, you gotta lighten up, you seem to only do that when you're fighting your ass off."
"Obviously," the blue-haired Gaul shrugged. "I mean no insult towards you in any way, it's just that.... it is kinda hard to be around those who order us like dogs."
"Tch, I've never felt like that before, so I wouldn't really know," Renji smirked. "I've been with my master's family since I was barely twelve, when I was scraping and stealing to get by. In public or around their guests, I must address them formally. But at home, I often call them by their personal name. For example, I've been friends with Rukia for years since she was little kid. She's also the same size as she had been since ten--"
"Renji, stop sprouting nonsense about me and get over here!" Rukia called out, and the red-head flinched in surprise.
"Whatever you say, Mistress," he chuckled nervously as he and Grimmjow went inside the ludus.
"You keep saying that some slaves are often treated as friends," the blunet muttered, with their masters several paces ahead of them. "You're still their servants and yet...."
"I know, it's kinda complicated but we are like this, it makes us loyal to those who gave our life a new meaning," smiled Renji. "Let me guess, you felt that the gods had cursed you into this fate, right?" Grimmjow frowned but nodded a little at that. "But look at you now.... you think they still cursed you even though you're becoming a gladiator?"
".... Hard to say now, if you put it that way," he muttered.
"Hey, what're they saying back there?" muttered Rukia when she peeked over her shoulder out of curiosity.
"Beats me, but I think both of them are becoming friends," shrugged Ichigo.
"If you think so...." she sighed.
(Blood and Sand)
"Formation one! Begin!" An unison of grunts and yells echoed throughout the training ground as fighters swung their swords and shields like clockwork. "Formation two! Begin!" Kenpachi called out, and the fighters did so. Grimmjow kept up the pace, already learning the Roman ways of fighting. It was more sharper and swifter than his old ways, not that he would openly admit. "Formation three! Begin!" The Gaul followed after the other men, but as he was meant to swing upwards, the wooden sword suddenly slipped out of his grasp and it flew up, only to land right by the Doctore's feet with a loud clatter.
The other gladiators paused and stared at Grimmjow, who bristled in utter embarrassment, before many of them laughed. Kenpachi, however, was not amused as he snapped his whip and silence immediately settled. ".... Do you wish to die, Gaul?" he growled lowly, his good eye glared down at Grimmjow as he stalked up to him. The Gaul frowned at him, he wasn't sure if he was meaning a rhetorical question or not. "I'll ask again.... Do you wish to die or not, Gaul?"
".... No," he muttered, earning a sudden hook right across the face. The force knocked him off his feet and he stumbled to the ground. He gritted and coughed out blood. The last time he had been punched like that, he was knocked out cold by that barbaric woman Nel.
"Then why did your sword fell from your hand!" demanded Kenpachi. "Doing so equals instant death, something that you cannot afford to do so!" Grimmjow growled and glared up at him, before stumbling to his feet as he wiped the blood off his lips. "You must hold onto your weapon, even when your fucking arm is sliced off....! If you can't follow a simple direction, then get out of my sight! Unless you still wish to continue....!"
".... I'll continue," muttered Grimmjow with his predatory eyes narrowed. Already, the bruise on his cheek darkened.
"You'll continue what....?" he questioned.
"I'll continue training.... Doctore," he muttered lowly, as he walked past him. He knelt down to pick up the sword, his gaze flickered to the large man.
"And don't you dare try to attack someone like me," Kenpachi pointed out, and the Gaul flinched in surprise at that.
"H-How the hell do you know that?" he scoffed, and the other fighters laughed as Kenpachi turned to him with a scary grin.
"Your body language was so easy to read that it was ridiculous," he grinned. "You're looking at a man who have fought, killed, and survived in the arena for almost fifteen years. Not many men can boast for that, you know, and not many of them have scars as I do. You're still a pathetic runt compared to others, so you better pick up the pace or die." Grimmjow scoffed as he stood, he was getting tired of this.
"Then give me something different besides the same old shit," he grumbled. "That's probably why I'm getting sloppy, because nothing's interesting to me." The fighters laughed again but it died down when Kenpachi roared out a laughter.
"So.... you're that thick-headed that you really want a true challenge?" he questioned, and Grimmjow narrowed his eyes at his meaning.
"Are you fighting against me?" he questioned back.
"I guess so," grinned Kenpachi as he promptly dropped his whip. Some gasps emitted out of awe and anticipation, as a slave handed the Doctore a wooden sword. "I'll put you down, you arrogant pup...." he sneered with his teeth bared. Grimmjow grinned back, his lips curled to show his own sharp teeth, as he braced to attack. From the balcony, Urahara watched with his expression wretched with seriousness while Rukia stared in disbelief. Ichigo, however, was nowhere to be seen but that was the least of the Gaul's problem. He had wanted a challenge since his first win, and the thirst of blood was boiling his.
"Ready to die?" Kenpachi grinned.
"I'm afraid not," sneered Grimmjow. He suddenly made the first move, charging at the larger with his sword raised. But he didn't expect a parry from the other man so strong that he quickly placed his footing but his knees buckled slightly as he gritted his teeth.
"Hah, the pup's still baring his teeth," the Doctore sneered, and Grimmjow growled. "Very rarely does anyone stand up to me like this. But.... this is only the beginning and you should know that." He stepped away, but before Grimmjow can react, Kenpachi took a wide swing at him.
"Guh....!" Grimmjow grunted, pain and blood filled up his mouth as he stumbled to the sandy ground. He felt intense dizziness in his eyes and brain, it felt like he was back-kicked by several mules at the same time. He tried to get to his feet, only to feel a harsh kick against his side and he rolled against the ground. Luckily, his grip was still on his sword but Grimmjow coughed out blood-tinted bile as he shakily glared up at the Doctore.
"Get the fuck up! I thought you want a fucking challenge, you little weakling!" he laughed.
"Sh-shut.... shut up!" growled Grimmjow as he managed to stand up, but his legs shook a little. The pain in his side was overwhelming but he inhaled as he stepped forward. "You think you're so great....? When was the last time you had been in the arena, huh? I doubt that you still have the same skill as you did all those years ago."
"Oh, is that right?" Kenpachi growled with his scary grin. Many of the fighters, including Renji, watched the Gaul's attitude as the sense of stupidity and arrogance, while Ikkaku just smirked with delight and amusement. "You better hope that I have weakened in my skills, Gaul, or else I'll bash your brain across the sand."
"Tch, I might do the same with you," Grimmjow gritted. He stepped forward with a swing but the larger man practically rebuffed the attack with his bare arm as he countered with a heavier swing against his shoulder. The Gaul gritted but attempted to push back.
"Heh, ignorant fool...." Out of nowhere, Kenpachi lifted Grimmjow up and tossed him across the ground.
"Arggh....!" Grimmjow yelled out, mostly in pain when he landed on the bruises. It was a surprise that he didn't break a bone from the force, but he felt stunned when he landed on his back. Above, Urahara narrowed his eyes slightly and snapped his fan shut before glancing over his shoulder. Ichigo was still absent, but to him that was a good thing. He didn't want the teen to see his slave being hurled around like a rag doll. He looked back down to see the Gaul coughing and trying to get up, and sighed.
"Such stubborness, this man has...." he mumbled under his breath.
Grimmjow panted heavily as he used the sword to support himself, his cyan eyes remained defiant with glare at the Doctore. But Kenpachi just grinned as he paced around him. "I don't get it.... you barely had enough training for your first victory but that's just bullshit," he chuckled. "Even some of my best students cannot beat me, and you going against me is nothing but a fucking joke. To them, to the lanista, and to yourself."
Grimmjow growled lowly at him, but his legs finally gave out and he fell to one knee. "Shit...." he growled. "You call me a joke....?"
"That's what I'm seeing right in front of me." The Gaul snarled and pushed his will to charge at the man, but Kenpachi grinned as he blocked his attack one more time and his footing cemented in place like a stone statute. "Hmm, I'm getting tired of this," Kenpachi now frowned a little.... before striking him across the face. Grimmjow felt the stun and the dizzying light blinded his vision before being tossed to the ground. He coughed and groaned, only to choke when he felt the faux blade against his throat.
"Like I said, you're just a fucking pup right now," Kenpachi frowned. "Go against me like that ever again, and I'll make sure this sword goes up your fucking ass . . . ."
"All right, lesson learned, Kenpachi...." Urahara called out. The large man scoffed as he stepped away, and Grimmjow coughed for air. Bruises and blood smeared across his face and one of his eyes was nearly swollen shut. Sounds of disappointed scoffs and groans echoed as he was helped to his feet. "Get him patched up, I'll explain it to Ichigo later."
"Was that supposed to happen, Urahara?" muttered Rukia, transfixed with shock and awe of what had happened.
"No, and hopefully never again," he sighed. Renji, who helped Grimmjow to his feet, just frowned and shook his head as he led the Gaul inside.
"You must be a fucking fool, Gaul.... even a rabbit would run away from the wolf when being cornered," he muttered quietly in his ear.
"Well, I'm not a rabbit...." Grimmjow muttered, coughing out a little.
"And you're not a fucking wolf either," the red-head argued. "You may be a beast, but Kenpachi's an even greater beast. One that should never be provoked ever again." Grimmjow didn't comment further, as he coughed out more blood.
(Blood and Sand)
Ichigo sighed tiredly, the sun was too hot for him to stand so he excused himself for a short nap. It wasn't like he would miss the training. Like Grimmjow had said, it was the same patterned routine. As he laid there on the lounge chair, his mind wandered towards the next game. He hoped that Grimmjow is really strong enough to take on his opponent, whoever it may be. Since his first win, plenty of people was interested in the Gaul under the name of Bestia, though some remarked that he was an animalistic maniac upon first impression. After all, a Gaul is rarely used as a gladiator these days.
He respectfully declined when a slave offered him wine, something that he can't truly stomach. He had drunk the alcohol before, and it had made him ill by one cup alone. That was one of the reasons that he couldn't stand Ginjou, as the man was practically reeked of it at any given time, whenever he was around. Speaking of which, Ichigo hadn't heard much of Ginjou lately and he was pretty glad about it. Whenever he was around, he would purposely flirt with the teen, who doesn't even want him.
That was why he was happy when the army commander had left Rome for a few months, and was able to live his own life without Ginjou hovering over him with leering eyes. But now, with what he had found out about his involvement with Grimmjow's slavery, he was more annoyed with him now than before.
"Ichigo....?" Ichigo sat up to see Urahara walking up to him with a subdued expression on his face. "There's something.... I have to tell you about. Involving your man."
"Huh? What happened....?" Ichigo frowned in surprise as he stood up.
"He thought it was it was a good idea to challenge the Doctore, after voicing his opinion about the usual training regime," he sighed. "Long story short, he was defeated. And he was lucky that he had escaped without a broken bone."
"Oh, shit.... I'm so sorry about that, Urahara," he frowned but Urahara shook his head.
"I know, but I have a serious thought about your man, Ichigo," he muttered. "True, he was cooperative during the first days of training. But I think he believed, because of his first win, that he deserved to have a different challenge. It wasn't new to see fighters behaving like that, but his was a different story because he dare to go against one of my men."
"I'm sorry...."
"Don't be," Urahara frowned lightly as he patted him on the shoulder. "But I wonder about how you handle him back at your villa. This is only the first strike, Ichigo. I'm just giving you a fair warning for now.... but if he dares to create another chaos like that again, I cannot do nothing but recommend you to another ludus. You must do something about his behavior."
"I see...." Ichigo frowned apologetically. "So how's he doing, Urahara?"
"Judging from his bruises, he's going to be out for a day or two before he can come back," he sighed. "Ichigo, you must discipline him. I know your personality and your reluctance to do so because he's a slave. But he's a slave nonetheless." With that, the lanista left him alone, and Ichigo frowned in disbelief.
He was meaning to ask Urahara about Grimmjow having a change in his training but the Gaul seemed to have the same idea and tried to do it himself. "Shit...." he scoffed under his breath.
(Blood and Sand)
Grimmjow frowned but didn't say nothing, as he was led out of the ludus. The day wasn't even over but Urahara said that the Gaul needed rest to heal the bruises for some time. Ichigo bidded farewell to him and Rukia before they left the city, but the teen avoided Grimmjow's gaze and Grimmjow noticed that. The Gaul wondered if it had to do with him foolishly goading Kenpachi into a fight. Many of the fighters didn't make eye contact with him either when he left, believing that he had disrespected the ludus and Urahara. Only Renji and Ikkaku talked to him briefly, only the former just frowned at his attempt.
".... You didn't seen me fighting that Doctore?" Grimmjow questioned on the ride home. His lips split and cut and his injured eye covered with a crude gauze. Blackened bruises covered by his tunic aside from his face, but he tried not to move so much as he relaxed in his seat.
"Unfortunately, I didn't...." Ichigo frowned, gazing out the window. "If I had, I wouldn't prevent you from doing so," he added, and Grimmjow's frown deepened at that.
"I just wanted a real challenge--"
"I would've asked for it for you, but it appeared that you were too impatient to have it made," Ichigo frowned when he glanced at him, and Grimmjow blinked at the hardened gaze from the teen. "You've forgotten why I wanted you to become a gladiator, Grimmjow. I bought you so you can be one.... yet you kept resisting your role as a slave--"
"As if I wish to become one--"
"No one wishes to be a slave, but there's no choice in the matter!" Ichigo scoffed. "Stop it with your fucking self-loathing about being a slave. I've been trying to ease your transgression because of it, but still you keep resisting. It's not only disrespectful to me or the other servants, but to the house of my father who can easily discard you like trash." The Gaul's expession was fixed with surprise yet annoyance. He didn't expect the teen to speak so boldly like that before, but he frowned as he glanced away.
"Then stop treating me like a stray pet you had taken in," he scoffed lowly.
"Fine then.... I'll start treating you as the slave you are," Ichigo bit out angrily. "I will make sure of that, Grimmjow...." The Gaul felt a little startled of his words, and wondered what he truly meant. The carriage finally stopped in front of the villa and Ichigo got off first. Grimmjow soon followed, but once they reached inside, Ichigo quickly went up to Nel who greeted him. He frowned when he watched the teen whispering something to her and noticed her mildly surprised expression before her gaze flickered to him.
"Yes, sir...." she answered with a nod, and Ichigo walked away without a backward glance. She glanced at Grimmjow, who frowned in slight confusion, before sighing as she turned to leave. "Come, I'll ask Orihime to concote a medicine for your pain," she muttered. "In the meantime, rest in your room.... I'll bring you your food in a moment."
"Fine," huffed Grimmjow, walking the path to the slaves' quarters, wincing once in a while from the deep bruises in his body as he managed to reach to his room. Sucking in a breath, he flopped onto his bed. How Ichigo talked to him like that earlier was unadmittedly odd yet unsettling. He had always thought the teen was soft; but he should have expected that when he had been punished by him some weeks before. After a while of silence, he glanced up when he saw Nel carrying his tray of food and placing it on the small table. But from the short distance, he frowned at what was presented.
"I'll come back with the medicine," sighed Nel as she was about to leave.
"Wait.... you expect me to eat nothing but this shit?" he scoffed as he stood up, glaring at the meager meal of porridge and bread. But Nel barely batted an eye as she frowned at him.
"Well, you did request to be not treated like a dog taken in from the streets," she replied. "If you wish to be a slave, then you shall be treated as such.... until Ichigo says so."
"What was that?" he scoffed, but Nel frowned as she flipped strands of her hair back, revealing the similar silver earrings pierced on her ears.
"You have the same 'markings' as the rest of the servants here," she muttered. "You will always be a slave until otherwise.... and quite honestly, I've never a single slave here given freedom during the years I've lived here. And I have been here since I was barely five." Grimmjow bristled slightly but scowled once Nel left.
"Fucking shit....!" he scowled. Meanwhile, Ichigo frowned in his room, feeding Zangetsu with meat and bones from a plate in his lap. His pet had never complained about being treated as a pet. So why Grimmjow would complain as such? The Gaul doesn't want to be a slave, yet he doesn't want to be of equal terms as him. Ichigo didn't get it, Grimmjow was being too stubborn on both ends so then why did he relent towards the one thing he asked of him to be? Was there another reason why he wanted to spill blood with sword and glory, instead of bringing the teen honor?
(Blood and Sand)
Grimmjow gasped heavily from yesterday's pain, it was still there as were the bruises, when he was forced to do another errand of carrying heavy items from the city. The swelling in his eye was going down as well as most of his pain, due to that extremely bitter medicine he was given. Mentally, he assumed that he was being punished for what he had done back at the ludus, but there was no way that he would openly admit it.
He huffed when the bruise on his side ached, and his legs buckled under the heavy weight of sacked grain. Chad, who was carrying the same amount, glanced at him silently as the Gaul attempted to walk after him. "Fuck....!" hissed Grimmjow, sweat dripped from his face as he gasped for air.
".... You don't look well," Chad muttered.
"Thanks for the fucking obvious!" Grimmjow hissed.
"No, the pain you received from yesterday, Ichigo should've let you rest," he muttered. "You must have done something for him to be this mad at you."
"Him being mad at me....? What had I done, I thought he wanted me to some fucking gladiator," scowled the Gaul.
"You haven't given him the respect that he deserves, especially since he was the one who took you from your hardship--"
"My hardship was because of that fucker who took my former life away as well as my friends," he argued, coughing a little to ease the pain. "I've never wanted this. On that day, I was meant to hunt down a few deers before going back to my village. Not being captured by fucking Roman soldiers in my own land. I have every reason to dislike your master, because he's nothing but a naive boy who thinks he can win favors with kindness."
"So you think you needed to treated cruelly?" questioned Chad, and Grimmjow scoffed in reply. "You're not really making any sense.... if you continue to act this way, then you might as well be removed from the villa."
"And what would happen, if that were to happen?"
"Who knows? Disobedient slaves are often executed or sent to the mines," he muttered. "Do you wish for that?"
"No--"
"Then I am not getting your reluctance of being a slave," Chad said. "If you wish for your freedom, then that'll take years to happen. The only way to get that is either acquiring enough money or friendship with your masters. Which is it?" Grimmjow said nothing, instead he wheezed and coughed as he followed after the other man. Years of being a slave was not what he had in mind, and getting his freedom was far too slim to reach with the state that he was in now.
"Then why do I need to serve under that brat?" he huffed.
"That brat thinks that everybody's as equal as anyone else, even under the social classes of the Roman society," he nodded. "You don't have to serve him. Rather, you do a favor for him. And you're doing him a favor by becoming a fighter for him."
"Tch...." Grimmjow scoffed, nearly buckled from both the pain and the weight. Suddenly, one of the sacks had been removed from his hold as Chad took it. He blinked and frowned at him in surprise. "Why'd you do that?" he grumbled.
"Well, I did you a favor, didn't I?" he nodded.
"But...."
"Not everybody can be enemies to you.... you need a friend once in a while," he muttered.
".... My friends are dead," Grimmjow scoffed softly. "I don't need new ones." Chad glanced at him but said nothing else. The Gaul inhaled with the weight finally lifted from his shoulders, but the pain resumed as they left the city. He still felt abhorrence against the society that he had been pulled into, starting with the man who had taken everything away from him.
He knew what happened to him.... but something kept nagging in his mind since taken into slavery. He wasn't sure if that one person was still alive, since he had passed out from the injury that gave him the permanent scar.
(Blood and Sand)
"You think he'll change by the time you take him back to the ludus, Ichigo?" muttered Nel, as she stepped out into the garden. Ichigo, who was sitting by the fountain and was lazily playing tug-of-war with Zangetsu over a bone, just frowned as he glanced up at her. "That man's stubborn, I know that, but this isn't like you to punish something while they're still injured. If it continues, then his injuries might worsen and he can't really go back to training. After all, the next game's less than a week away."
"I know that...." frowned Ichigo. "But I don't get his reasons of resisting his role of being a slave. It doesn't make any sense, Nel. He resists when I treat him nice, and continues whenever I warn him to behave. What does he want?"
"I've absolutely no idea," sighed Nel. "One time, I told him that being here wasn't so bad because you're like family to me. But he didn't seem to believe that, because in the end I'm still a slave for you."
"True, but you're still my best friend," Ichigo sighed. Nel smiled softly as she walked up to him.
"Would you be happy for me.... if your father were to grant me freedom, and I leave the villa?" she asked, but Ichigo shrugged.
"I'm not really sure, because you've been with me for as long as I remember," he muttered. "I'd like for you to be happy, Nel."
"Then I'm just as happy being here," she smiled. "I don't think I can find a way to live outside these walls."
"Heh, I'm sure you can but we'll never know," Ichigo smiled back, but frowned when he saw Chad brisking up to them. "Chad? How did the errand go?" he asked but the slave shook his head.
"Grimmjow collapsed soon after we got here, Ichigo," he informed, and Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise.
"Is he all right....?" he questioned, standing up.
"I just carried him back to his room, he was breathing heavily."
"Shit.... Nel, fetch Orihime for some medicine," he requested. "I'll go check on him...."
"Of course, Ichigo," nodded Nel as the two went on their opposite ways. Quietly, Ichigo went downstairs into the slaves' quarters and turned to Grimmjow's room. Sure enough, the Gaul was slumped on his bed, breathing heavily from the pain in his body. As soon as the teen stepped closer, Grimmjow wheezed as he turned his head. He glared at him, but Ichigo frowned before he dragged the chair close to the bed and sat down.
"You must be so fucking happy.... for wanting me to suffer like this," wheezed Grimmjow.
"You were the one who wished to be treated less than a dog, Grimmjow," Ichigo frowned. "What more do you want....? Do you wish for something, is there anything you want aside from being a slave?" Grimmjow coughed lightly but his eyes narrowed as he glared away.
"Why would you care....?"
"Because we are equal human, the gods are the only ones who elevated above us," he muttered.
"I don't follow your gods, only my own.... though I think they turned on me the moment I needed them the most," he huffed.
"Who hadn't felt that way before?"
"Don't compare me to you--"
"Stop it!" scoffed Ichigo, and Grimmjow glanced at him in slight surprise. "You don't want to be a slave, you don't want to be seen as equal! Then what the fuck do you want? Huh? Tell me!"
"I want fucking revenge, that's what!" the Gaul scowled. At that, Ichigo stared at him in silent disbelief with his eyes widened. "I thought you've known since I found out that you know the fucking bastard....! You were that naive to let me become a fighter, when you should've known that giving me a sword was the wrong idea."
".... You want to become a gladiator, so you can kill Ginjou for what he had done to you," Ichigo understood yet frowned in utter disbelief.
"You got it now, brat, or do I need to spell it out for you?" scoffed Grimmjow.
"But.... you're insane, Grimmjow," he shook his head. "You can't do something like that."
"Why not?"
"For one thing, he is far beyond my class, not to mention that he holds the power to command his legion and put death on those who goes against him," he scoffed. "You won't even reach close to him.... and even if you would, he'd kill you without hesitation."
"I'll try--"
"You're not getting it, Grimmjow....!" he warned. "I understand that he was responsible for the death of your friends but how can you get revenge on the man who's practically unreachable?"
"Would you have thought of it.... if you were in my position?" gritted Grimmjow as he sat up, sucking in a sharp breath. "You're still fucking naive.... What would you do, if your friends or family had been slaughtered right before your very eyes by the Roman army and then hauled you into slavery? Would you be able to live with yourself, or resent into getting revenge on those who sent you to hell? Care to tell me that....?"
Ichigo stared at him but was stunned slience by his words. "Tch.... of course you couldn't. You're just a priviledged brat who hadn't even held a sword to protect himself," scoffed Grimmjow. "You can never understand me, how I feel about wanting to spill blood of those who put me into this misery. That's all I can say.... but I doubt you would do the one thing for me. After all, that man's your friend."
"Ginjou's not my friend...." muttered Ichigo but Grimmjow scoffed with a slight smirk.
"Then what is he to you? I saw the way he was close to you that night."
"That's just it, he only wants me in a sexual matter," he frowned lightly.
"Tch, does every man in this city think that way?" he huffed, but Ichigo frowned.
"I get it.... if it were me in your position, I'd curse the gods for forcing me into a life of misery," he muttered quietly.
"Then what could you do about it?" scoffed Grimmjow. "Have you ever held a sword before?"
"Only wooden swords when I was little.... but in a few years, I have to go into the military," muttered Ichigo, and the Gaul scoffed in disbelief.
"You're becoming the one who caused me grief, huh?"
"If that's the case, my father used to be in the military as well," he frowned.
"Either way, you don't even know about how to wield the sword as I do now," scoffed Grimmjow. "Hell, I hadn't looked like that since I was twelve," he added, observing the teen's lithe form. "Maybe the gods would have mercy on your ass and hope that you don't get killed in that shitty military." Ichigo just frowned as he glanced down on his lap, as Orihime stepped into the room with a cup full of gritty green liquid.
"Here you go, Ichigo...." sighed Orihime, giving him the cup.
"Thanks, Orihime," nodded Ichigo and the girl servant walked out the room. "Here.... drink this, and the pain'll ease down," he muttered, holding out the cup for the Gaul who wrinkled his nose at the mucky scent.
"Why, so I can be forced to haul shit around for you?" he scoffed.
"No.... so you can rest up and go back to training," answered Ichigo. Grimmjow blinked at that, but frowned as he glanced away.
"I don't get you.... after all that shit I've been giving you, you'd still be nice to me?" he grumbled.
"It wouldn't help for you to consider me as a friend," he frowned. Grimmjow blinked but frowned as he reluctantly took the medicine.
"Masters and slaves being friends, it sounds foreign to me," he grumbled. He forced himself to gulp down the bitter medicine, swallowing back his gag reflex as he glanced at the teen. "Do you really wish for that....? Because I knew my friends since childhood back in Gaul. It's not easy to replace them just like that."
"I understand that," nodded Ichigo.
"Then you understand about how I feel about my anger towards that man," he frowned deeply.
"Yeah, but like I said, Ginjou's a very powerful man and he'd kill you if he were to hear a hint of your plan," said the teen. "I'm not telling you to let it go.... but for now, focus on your training. And you must not step out of line next time, as Urahara's a very good friend of my father."
"Hhmph, it's hard already to find good sparring partners anyway," scoffed Grimmjow, and Ichigo smiled a little. But Grimmjow frowned as he stood up, his hand rubbing at his sore side. "But.... there's one thing that I can't take my mind off," he muttered. "I don't think.... all of my friend were killed, though." Ichigo stared at him in surprise and frowned.
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"Before I was injured and was hauled away, I remembered my last friend being alive," he muttered. "But.... I'm not sure if he's even alive or dead. If he is alive, there's possibility that he's also a slave."
"Oh.... then, is there anything I can do about it?" Ichigo asked, standing up. Grimmjow blinked at that and stared at the teen in mild disbelief.
"You'd do that for me....?" he asked quietly.
"I can try, but.... the Roman Empire is vast, with millioins of slaves being moved around," Ichigo replied. "If anything, I can ask my father for help to track your friend down. If that'd make you happy." For the first time, the Gaul's frowning expression lessened and sighed. He gazed at him for a moment, before reaching out for the teen who flinched slightly. But Ichigo felt the heavy hand ruffling his hair and glanced at him.
"I'll only be thankful when you're able to find him," he muttered, moving his hand away. "In the meantime, I'll do this gladiator thing for you. Though I'm only doing this so I can find a way to get to Ginjou...." Ichigo frowned but said nothing about it as he nodded.
"I'm telling you, Grimmjow, it'll be hard to find a single slave out of millions," he said. "And there's no guarantee that he'd be alive after all the months since your enslavement."
"I know, but it doesn't hurt to try," said Grimmjow, putting up a slight smirk. Ichigo smiled back, as he turned to leave.
"Um.... does this mean you accepted me as your master, Grimmjow?" the teen asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Tch, no...." smirked Grimmjow but Ichigo frowned lightly. "But if I've to take your word for it, then I've no choice but to stay here." The teen blinked but laughed a little before finally leaving. The Gaul sighed, he had completely forgotten about the pain in his bruises but the pain itself had nearly evaporated by the medicine. Was this what the others meant by being loyal to their masters? By giving them a reason to live on? If Ichigo managed to find his surviving friend, then would he be in complete gratitude to him? He wasn't sure anymore....
(Blood and Sand)
"Ah....! Look who's here....!" beamed Urahara, as usual he fanned himself when he greeted Ichigo and Grimmjow. All of the injuries on the Gaul's body were gone, saved for last scrapes, as he glanced at the lanista. "I assumed that you've learned your lesson after that scuffle with the Doctore, right?" he questioned. Grimmjow glanced at Ichigo, who was watching for his answer, before turning back to Urahara with a short nod.
"Yes...." he nodded.
"Excellent, then I expect for you to not cause any more trouble, all right?" he smiled.
"Yes," Grimmjow answered, before stepping out into the trainig ground. On sight, many of the fighters ingnored his presence but he could care less as Kenpachi stalked up to him.
".... Are you ready for any training I'll give you?" he grunted. "Because if you dare to go out of line again--"
"I won't, Doctore," nodded Grimmjow, glaring up to him. "I'll take on anything you can give me, but I won't disobey you." Kenpachi grinned before walking away, as Renji went up to the blunet. ".... I'm not gonna start trouble, if that's what you're thinking," he smirked lightly but Renji just frowned.
"You better not," sighed Renji. "These past couple of days, I had to hear Rukia talking to my master about your ass being handed to you. Now my master thinks you're a crazy beast who can't be tamed."
"Tch, guess that's a good thing," he smirked. "At least I can go back to fighting against any fucker who's unlucky to be my opponent."
"Well, whatever, just don't fuck around again," Renji nodded with a slight smirk. Grimmjow nodded back, before looking up at the balcony. Already, Ichigo was there with slight smile on his face. The teen's expression was making him unusually uncomfortable, as if he wasn't sure how to respond to it. Maybe he was accepting the fact that he was a slave to the teen, but not a slave entirely.
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I'm tired, I'm gonna snooze for a while.
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