Chapter 4:

"Are you sure this Shiro guy isn't going to kill us?" Nnoitra asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Pretty sure." Grimmjow responded, ignoring the derisive snort that came from Szayel. The pink haired man was currently driving them towards the headquarters of the Visored's, a place Grimmjow had never intended to return to.

Nnoitra who was also sat in the front, turned to face Grimmjow. "And he'll help us against Baraggan?"

Shrugging, Grimmjow turned his attention to the window. He honestly didn't know if Shiro would help them. But it was more likely than the man helping Baraggan at least. Grimmjow knew from his own experiences that the Visored's didn't share their territory.

Nnoitra tried - unsuccessfully - to get Grimmjow to talk as Szayel drove further into the city. But Grimmjow ignored him in favour of attempting to ignore the growing sense of dread he'd felt since the moment he'd left home. Ichigo would begin to suspect something was up soon, if he didn't already. That thought left a heavy weight in his stomach that had nothing to do with his breakfast.

As the car came to a stop Grimmjow looked up to see they were at the gates to the Visored's compound. A man outside was speaking into a radio and after a pause, waved his hand and the gates opened, allowing them access. Grimmjow sighed in relief, at least Shiro hadn't killed them, yet.

Szayel pulled up as soon as the car came to a stop Grimmjow stepped out, glad to be out finally. Nnoitra whistled lowly, taking in their surrounding enforce turning to him. "Fancy eh?"

"The Visored's aren't feared for nothing." Szayel spoke up, joining the two of them. "From what I know they're ruthless. We need to treat lightly, even if you know their head. Unless he allows it we wont be leaving alive."

"Trust me, no-one knows that better than I do." Grimmjow replied, looking up as the front doors opened and saw Shiro coming down the steps to greet them. He could also see the man's partner, Gin wait by the doors. Leaving his two friends he walked over to meet Shiro so they could talk privately.

"Well well, if it isn't my favourite brother-in-law." Shiro muttered sarcastically, too quiet for the others to hear.

"Keep it down. Unless of course you want Ichigo involved?" Grimmjow replied in little more than a growl.

Shiro just shrugged and stepped back, addressing everyone now. Grimmjow knew the last thing he wanted was for his twin to be involved, but he wouldn't display such weakness in front of him, even if they both knew it to be true. "Come on, I've got a room set up so you can tell me what's happened. I want to know everything about this Baraggan."

To say Szayel was in his element was an understatement. Back when they all worked under Baraggan the man had been in charge of operations because he was the best at making plans and smoothing out all the details. Even now as Grimmjow sat waiting for him to finish explaining their past he could see he had both Shiro and Gin's full attention. Needless to say without the pink haired man, things wouldn't be going so smoothly.

"So…" Shiro finally said once Szayel had finished. "You're waist deep in the shit right now then?"

"That's a mild way to put it." Nnoitra snorted.

Shiro just smiled, leaning his elbows on the table as he looked at them. "Well I've already been in contact with this Baraggan. Well, he contacted me." He corrected, ignoring the uneasy look Nnoitra and Szayel shot Grimmjow. "He wanted men, weapons, access to my city and now I know why. He wants to build up his ranks correct?" Grimmjow nodded. "And in the process probably turn my men against me." He finished, more or less to himself. With a sigh a leaned back in his seat and looked at Gin questioningly. "What do you think?"

"Doesn't seem like we have much of a choice." He replied, indicating at the other three. "You want inside information on Baraggan, you've got it right here. This is your best shot at taking him down, before he becomes a real threat."

Shiro nodded in consideration, finally looking at Grimmjow and to his relief, the pale man grinned. "Alright Jaeggerjaques, I'm in. But don't forget that favour you owe me." He added in a warning tone before standing up. "I've already had your belonging moved over here. It's all in a different building, separate from the rest of the compound so you won't be able to access anywhere but your place, got it?"

Both Szayel ad Nnoitra looked stunned at this information but Grimmjow, having already guessed Shiro might do something like this, just stood with a sigh. "Confinement huh? Sounds fun."

Shiro just smirked, leading them from the room and towards their new residence. "It's for your own protection. Not only will Baraggan not be able to find you, my men wont kill you either. Trust me Jaeggerjaques, some, if not all are still not happy about you killing my father."

Grimmjow just rolled his eyes. "Right."

"So they wont hurt you or your friends as long as you don't leave this building. If you're caught sneaking around, well let's just say you'll regret it." Since he'd already been at the mercy of the Visored's before, Grimmjow knew all to well what they were capable of. Hell he had the scars to prove it. He was keen not to repeat that incident. "I'll let you get settled in." Shiro continued, opening the doors and moving aside so they could enter. "Remember, don't leave without my permission." He wanted before looking at Grimmjow. "Jaeggerjaques, a word?"

Ignoring the questioning looks form his friends he followed Shiro outside. "Is this about the favour I owe you?" He asked as the doors shut and they moved away so they weren't overheard.

Shiro shook his head. "No it's about Ichigo. He's absolutely safe right? There's no way Baraggan can find him?"

Grimmjow hesitated before replying. "No, Baraggan will know where I live by now. But there's no reason for him to go all the way to Spain when he knows I'm in Japan. He wouldn't know about my relationship with Ichigo."

"You better be right. If anything happens to Ichigo I will damn well make sure you suffer before I kill you myself." Shiro threatened and Grimmjow nodded in reply.

"I know, trust me Ichigo's safe."

"But for how much longer?" Shiro muttered, more to himself then Grimmjow. "Alright you better get back in there." As he turned to leave, Shiro grabbed his arm. "What did you tell them? About how you know me?"

Grimmjow rolled his eyes, pulling his arm free. "An abbreviated version, one without Ichigo."

"Good enough. Let's keep it that way." And with that Shiro turned and left. Catching a glimpse of the two men glaring at him from a nearby door, Grimmjow quickly entered his new accommodation.

"What was that about?" Szayel asked as Grimmjow shut the door behind him

"Old business." He replied curtly, indicating they wouldn't be discussing it any further than that. Szayel narrowed his eyes at him, but said nothing as h turned back to his laptop.

"I have to admit I'm impressed by this Shiro. He's very thorough isn't he. In any case I'm glad you had ties to him or else we'd probably be dead by now." Pushing his glasses up his nose, Szayel looked up at Grimmjow and smiled. "Some luck at last."

Nodding, Grimmjow glanced around to find it was just the two f them. "Where Nnoitra?"

"Sleeping most likely." The pink haired man pointed at one of the doors. "There's four bedrooms, he's in that one." Suddenly he closed the laptop and walked over to Grimmjow, grabbing his injured arm. "We need to change the bandages. It can't have your wound getting infected now can we?"

"I can do it myself." Grimmjow said, attempting to pull his arm free. Szayel tightening his grip, making him wince. "Alright…" Grimmjow said slowly, sitting down before taking off his shirt so the other could undo the bandage.

"He looks familiar."

"Who?"

"Shiro." Szayel sighed, reaching for his medical bag to redress the wound. "I don't know, it's something Nnoitra said when you two left. He said Shiro looked familiar, said he'd heard him before at your house. Is that correct?"

"No." Grimmjow replied, making a mental note to talk to Nnoitra later before he said something else. "Shiro's never been out to Spain as far as I'm aware. Much less my house." He winced again ad Szayel increased the pressure on his arm. "Are you alright?"

The man sighed, securing the bandage before sitting down next to him. "No something's bothering me."

"What?"

In answer Szayel grabbed his hand, tapping his wedding ring. "This."

Grimmjow pulled away quickly, swallowing hard. He knew Szayel wouldn't let it go, but he had still hoped he would, no such luck apparently. "What about it?"

The pink haired man was silent for a few minutes. "Who is it?!" He finally burst out, throwing his arms up in anger before slamming them on the table. "You can't honestly expect me to believe you married for love."

He said the last word in a disgusted tone and Grimmjow felt his own anger rise. "Why not?"

"Because you told me you would never love someone like you love me!" Szayel hissed back. "You said that before we decided to take down Baraggan, knowing full well afterwards we would be separated. You could have stayed you know, we thought he was dead at the time."

"It was the safest option and you knew it. Hell you were the one to suggest we all go our separate ways so don't play the guilt card on me!" Grimmjow snapped back, his hand clenching into a fist. "We shouldn't even be discussing this. The only reason we're together again is to finish off the job alright? It's over Szayel, it has been for a long time. What I said…" Grimmjow sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I meant it at the time ok? But… thing's change."

"What's he like?"

Grimmjow smiled bitterly, not looking at the other man. "I'm not discussing him with you so don't ask. I won't talk about him."

"Why not?"

"The less you know, the safer he'll be."

"You really love him?" Szayel asked quietly and Grimmjow looked at the man, nodding after a long pause. Szayel sniffed, shaking his head. "Damn, I knew I should've tracked you down years ago. Maybe things would have been different."

"Maybe." Grimmjow agreed, more to pacify Szayel than anything else. He truly didn't feel anything romantic for the pink haired man anymore. He hadn't in years, well before he'd even met Ichigo.

"I'm uh, going to get some rest too." Szayel said after a very long and awkward pause. He stood, giving Grimmjow's should a squeeze before leaving for one of the rooms. Once the door had shut Grimmjow sighed deeply, pulling his shirt back on.

The last thing he needed was Szayel to get idea's in his head. The man had always been passionate, too passionate sometimes, bordering on obsessive. One of the reasons Grimmjow was now glad he no longer loved the man. He stood, making a mental note of the two rooms taken and was starting towards one of the other doors when someone cleared their throat.

Pausing, Grimmjow closed his eyes momentarily and sighed again. Just what he needed. If Shiro or Gin had eavesdropped on the entire conversation he knew Shiro would barely be able to contain himself. Szayel would be dead by the end of the week, and most likely he would be too. Bracing himself Grimmjow turned around, thinking up a variety of explanations to tell Shiro as he did. When he saw who had listened in all these thoughts disappeared instantly.

"Well, this is cosy."

Grimmjow opened his mouth, at first nothing came out but after a long pause he finally managed to say one word. "Ichigo?"

It was indeed Ichigo. The man stepped closer, into the light so Grimmjow could see him properly. Folding his arms, the orange head frowned at him, taking on a stiff stance. "How's the business trip going?"