Sweet Sorrow

Review Replies- XoXgaaraXoX: Ichigo wouldn't let himself get pushed around for too long, even if he did love Kenpachi. The troll hasn't returned so I assume they were just flaming stories just to be an ass and try to get a rise out of me.... I really dislike people like that. If something like that really happened to them, then yeah I feel bad, but for a troll to claim that is what trivializes rape, not this story which is showing that it's bad, not good.
Tiramisu: Thank you! I try not to take trolls/flamers seriously, but it always makes me feel better to know I have support =D
ShadowofLight: I know, Nnoitra and fluffy shouldn't normally be in the same sentence, but Ichigo deserves at least a little fluff.
Yakumo: If Yachiru was around she would have given Kenpachi a beating.
usmorgan: Thanks! I really try to portray the emotions and abuse as realistic (to show how wrong it is).
VioletEyes: Nnoitra certainly is going to give it a try =D
DeviousMinnie: Thanks!
Lynzee: haha, I'm really enjoying all the different names that people come up with to call Kenpachi...
Bunnybop05: I'm sorry, that really is sad... That's what is so awful about abusive relationships, and I hope that more people had the strength to break away from the abuser's destructive behavior before it's too late for them. Listening to that song makes me want to cry...

Beta’d by Warrior Nun (who rocks).

Sweet Sorrow: Chapter 4

When Nnoitra heard his doorbell ring, he never expected to look through the peephole and see Ichigo. He opened the door immediately and gaped at his poor love that looked awful. Granted he was still as beautiful as ever, but he looked like he’d gone a few rounds with a semi truck.

“Ichigo?”

Ichigo shifted and didn’t look Nnoitra in the eye.

“I looked up your address in the phonebook.” He muttered.

“Ya want to come in?” Nnoitra said, trying to keep the hope from his eyes. Ichigo finally looked up and Nnoitra was shocked by the large bruise that marred half of his face. “Fuck! What the hell happened?” He reached forward to cup Ichigo’s face, making Ichigo flinch.

Nnoitra pulled away and narrowed his eyes at Ichigo who looked slightly ashamed. This time Nnoitra reached for him much slower and ran his fingers lightly over the bruise which was still an ugly black-purple color, which meant it was pretty recent.

Ichigo winced at the light touch and Nnoitra’s eye darted to Ichigo’s brown ones which looked so warm despite the pain he was in.

“Come inside.” He pulled away from Ichigo reluctantly and stepped back to let him in. Ichigo hesitantly went in and swallowed at the lavish but comfortable looking room.

“Go ahead and sit down while I get some ice for ya.” He did so and took the ice which was wrapped in a small towel gratefully. “Are ya hurt anywhere else?”

Ichigo turned bright red and didn’t meet Nnoitra’s eye. Nnoitra suspected he knew the nature of the abuse, but he didn’t know for sure.

“Is it… did he rape ya?”

Ichigo flinched at the word and Nnoitra had to keep himself from demanding the name of the beast that had hurt his Ichigo so he could kill the bastard himself.

“Do ya need to go to the hospital?”

“N-no, I’m used to it now so I don’t need medical attention…”

Nnoitra visibly recoiled at the ‘used to it’ part and snarled.

“Tell me who it is.”

Ichigo was surprised at his tone and glanced at him to see him glowering. “Why?”

“So I can find him and kill him, that’s why!”

“No!!!”

Nnoitra was shocked by the loud reply and stared at Ichigo who didn’t look very happy.

“Why the hell not!? The bastard raped ya and hit ya! He deserves it!”

“No! I still love him!”

Nnoitra froze. His Ichigo… His beautiful Ichigo, who was abused by some monster, loved another man that was the same monster that hurt him!

Ichigo flinched at Nnoitra’s expression and set the ice aside for a moment to rub his arms nervously. “I’m not saying that I deserved it, or that I want to be with him, but I do love him and I can’t change that.” Tears began to trickle out of his eyes and Nnoitra felt his heart break a little.

“Ichi…” He grabbed him, making Ichigo squawk in indignation, and pulled him into his lap. Ichigo froze for a moment as he was forced to straddle the other man, but Nnoitra just held him tightly and stroked his back.

“Ichigo…” I love you, was on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t want to force his emotions on Ichigo when he was so vulnerable. Instead he held Ichigo as he cried and stared off into space. Ichigo’s hair really was soft, something he hadn’t been able to discover before because his hair had been so wet from the rain. His skin was really soft too.

Nnoitra wanted to lick at the flesh, but held himself back. His Ichigo had been raped and hurt by another man and the last thing Nnoitra wanted was to hurt him as well. He had not idea how someone could hurt Ichigo. Sure Nnoitra could imagine sinking his teeth into Ichigo’s neck and marking him, or maybe getting a little rough in bed, but he would never do it if he knew Ichigo didn’t want it. He got enjoyment out of knowing Ichigo would want it as well.

After the sobs had quieted down, Nnoitra nudged Ichigo away and studied his face which was red and puffy from crying, not to mention the bruise. He brushed the tears away with his thumb and leaned forward to carefully and slowly kiss the tip of Ichigo’s nose. Ichigo blinked as he pulled away and sniffled a little.

“Nnoitra…”

“Don’t worry, Ichigo, I would never make ya do something ya don’t want to do.” Nnoitra said and resisted the urge to kiss him on the lips. “Why don’t ya go take a shower while I get the guest bedroom ready for ya?”

Ichigo nodded and then hesitated. “I didn’t bring anything else to wear with me.” Ichigo studied Ichigo for a minute and then lifted him up while he stood. Ichigo dangled in the air as Nnoitra easily held him up by the armpits and immediately turned bright red. “O-oi!”

“Tch.” Nnoitra set Ichigo down again and flipped his cell phone out. “I think my secretary Tesla might have clothes that will fit ya, he can get them to me before ya get out of the shower.”

Ichigo nodded gratefully and headed toward where he assumed the bathroom was, and luckily got it right. It felt good to take a shower and wash Kenpachi’s last abuse from his skin, rubbing and rubbing until his skin was raw to the touch. He only stopped when the water turned cold and didn’t want Nnoitra barging in, wanting to know if he was okay.

He hesitantly left the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist because he didn’t want to put on the clothes stained with his blood and semen. He was surprised to find a petit blond man holding a bag of what looked like clothes talking to Nnoitra. He was uneasy and was about to dart back into the bedroom when he spoke.

“Are you Ichigo?”

Ichigo nearly dropped his towel in shock when who he assumed was Tesla ran over to him with a concerned look on his face.

“Oh, you poor dear! That looks like it hurts; did Nnoitra-sama get you something to help with the swelling? I bet he didn’t think of it. I got some clothes for you and they might be a little bit big, but they’re better than Nnoitra-sama’s. You need to dry your hair properly or you’re going to catch a cold!”

Ichigo stared at Tesla who tugged him back in the bathroom to get him some medicine and to dry his hair as if he couldn’t do it himself. Nnoitra stared too. Tesla ignored the both of them carefully tended to Ichigo who flinched, but didn’t pull away from him.

Nnoitra was even more clueless than Ichigo because it was way out of character for him. Maybe because they had only ever met while in professional mode, but he also thought that Ichigo was bringing it out in him. Nnoitra hovered in the doorway and his eyes riveted to his bare skin as Ichigo’s towel began to creep down slowly.

Tesla noticed him looking and slammed the door in his face. Nnoitra was highly affronted and slightly worried, but he didn’t think that Tesla would hurt Ichigo after that display so he moved away.

He didn’t hear anything from the bathroom other than quiet murmurs so he kept himself busy with making tea and fidgeting on the couch. He leapt up when Tesla left the room and he raised an eyebrow at him before grabbed the bag of clothes. He handed them through the door to Ichigo and then closed it before turning back to Nnoitra.

“You’re hovering.” Tesla commented calmly and Nnoitra fell back onto the couch with a grunt.

“I am not.”

“Whatever you say, Nnoitra-sama.”

Nnoitra glared at him and then his look softened as he glanced at the door. “Is he… alright?”

“That’s not how I would describe his condition exactly, Nnoitra-sama.”

“Tch.” Nnoitra crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m leaving now; I don’t think Ichigo-kun wants to be fussed over too much.”

Nnoitra snorted and said nothing more as his secretary took his leave. He didn’t want too many people around Ichigo at the moment anyways. He wanted him to feel safe, and he didn’t think Ichigo would if he was crowded too much.

Ichigo finally came out of the bathroom looking much better. Nnoitra tried to keep his eyes straying too much, but Ichigo looked good in the loose, long sleeve, white shirt and draw string pants. His hair wasn’t completely dry, but just slightly damp. Nnoitra had the urge to nuzzle him and inhale the scent of the soap he had used. The fact that it was the same Nnoitra used made him want to grin.

“Um…” Ichigo shifted a little and looked uncertain. Nnoitra wasn’t used to this side of Ichigo, but he thought it was endearing all the same. “Thanks for, you know, everything.”

“It’s no problem.” Nnoitra said and stood while stretching a little. “Ya want me to show ya the guest room so ya can sleep?”

Ichigo nodded and Nnoitra led the way. It wasn’t as big as Nnoitra’s master bedroom, but it was a good enough size. He had grabbed several extra pillows for Ichigo and had placed them on the bed for Ichigo.

“I think ya are supposed to keep your head elevated when ya get hit that hard.” Nnoitra rambled and a small flicker of amusement crept into Ichigo’s eyes.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Nnoitra nodded and then looked away. “Right, so ya want some more ice to get ya through the night?”

“That sounds good.”

Nnoitra nodded and left to go get it while Ichigo closed the blinds so the sun wouldn’t wake him at ungodly hours.

“Here.”

Ichigo took the ice pack and then set it on the bed. He stepped closer to Nnoitra who swallowed harshly and didn’t move a muscle.

“Ichigo…ya don’t know what ya do to me.” He warned and Ichigo ignored him to brace his hands on Nnoitra’s chest and rose up on the tips of his toes to brush his lips against Nnoitra’s.

Nnoitra breathed harshly as he fought for control and settled for just gripping Ichigo’s arms and rubbing his thumb over the soft flesh. It was a chaste kiss, as kisses go, but it set every nerve in Nnoitra’s body aflame with desire and he had to take a step back.

“…Night Ichigo.” He practically fled the room and Ichigo smiled softly. Nnoitra was unexpectedly sweet at times.

…

Ichigo ended up telling Nnoitra everything. It was more than Ichigo would ever want to spill in the beginning of their maybe-relationship, but he wanted to employ Nnoitra’s investigative skills.

Nnoitra snuck in while Kenpachi was at work at grabbed Ichigo’s bag as well as a lot of his other things. He also got to work on filing the paperwork for a restraining order for Kenpachi as well as his friends. Ichigo told him about Kenpachi shady business dealings and Nnoitra went to work gathering evidence to put him behind bars, if not for the abuse, then at least for his other criminal activities.

Ichigo went to school and work (where they were very concerned about him) but it was under Tesla or Nnoitra’s watchful eye. It turned out to not be paranoia when Ikkaku tried to kidnap Ichigo from school, with a gun too. Tesla delayed him long enough for the cops to show up, and that was one less pain for Ichigo.

It took too long in Ichigo’s opinion, for the cops to finally arrest Kenpachi. Granted they had procedures to follow and laws to abide by, but still. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, with no mention of the abuse that went on. Ichigo didn’t want it brought up in court, and didn’t even tell the cops about it. All that mattered was that he couldn’t get to Ichigo anymore.

Ever so slowly, Ichigo began to not love Kenpachi

LINE

Who expected Tesla to be so…motherly? I think he’s good for the both of them (as a friend only of course!) I was initially going to have Tesla mooning over Nnoitra, but I decided I would rather Ichigo and Nnoitra get together smoothly.