Chapter 9

Grimmjow scratched his neck as he walked down the sidewalk. He looked covertly at the houses around him and smirked in satisfaction. As expected, no one was home at nine a.m.

Now he just had to make sure he got the right house, but they all looked the same. Same traditional design, same coloring, same small temple in front of the house. He yawned, it was too early to be back at work. He didn't have a choice though really, well, he did but he'd rather not give Hiyori the satisfaction of being four days ahead of him on her work, even if that was only staking out places.

"Tch." He growled, flicking some hair out of his eyes as he came to a stop in front of a house that stood out even in this impressive and annoying place. Seriously, did he need a flame-like decoration on top of the house? Stupid old man.

Dismissing the fact that this over-done, yet simply expensive house was over decorated, Grimmjow flitted his eyes around to make sure no one was watching. Luckily, no one was. One never knew if some random guy was standing around, left behind by life.

The blunette slipped on his black gloves, turning onto Yamamoto's sidewalk. It was a long stretch to the house, and as expected, no cars were in the driveway. He made his way to the backyard, fixing the disguise he was using, a dog-catcher hat, atop his head. No matter what, animals always found their way into his life.

He shook his head and climbed onto the back porch. A house like this was bound to have an alarm-system. That was basic stuff. Grimmjow just needed to find out what type of alarm it was. He smirked as the memory of him breaking into the Ciffer's house pushed its way to front position of his mind. He shook his head once more. That was the last person he needed to be thinking about.

His eyes skimmed the side of the doorway—there it was. In between the spaces was a wire going all the way from the ground, to the top of the door. He pulled out his pocket knife and kneeled to the ground, cutting the base of the wire before hearing a crackle. Grimmjow nodded to himself and moved to the door, picking the lock prior to its click. He grinned and opened the door, his light footsteps tapping on the shining wooden floor. He circled the bottom half of the house and then growled to himself—where the hell could it be!

Resorting the less desirable route of walking up the stairs, he slowly, but casually walked around the landing, closing all the curtains possible before starting his search. He wasn't going to get caught over something so stupid again, dammit. Grimmjow then, and only then, went on to check the rest of the rooms. The 'greatest officer of our history' hadn't locked any of the doors. Even the younger, maybe more pompous, Ulquiorra had remembered to do that.

"Damn!" He cursed out loud this time, angered that he couldn't keep his mind on the mission. All he had to do was find a stupid tea set and get out of there, preferably relocking the door and making it look like no one had been there. Where would a man keep a tea set as old as himself? Not in his bedroom, maybe an inner hallway? House was big enough.

Letting out an annoyed breath, the thief moved into the closest one and grinned widely. Of course he was right. Next mission, make sure he didn't leave any evidence. Making sure his gloves were on correctly, he moved forward and tried the handle. Even this was unlocked, so much for being careful. He carefully removed it and even more cautiously placed the fragile cups in his bag. Thankfully he wouldn't have to run. Hopefully. But if he did, even shards of this would be worth it. He was disgusted, who would pay 293,485.14 yen for a set of cups? And being very exact on the fourteen? What the hell.

Grimmjow shrugged it off as he closed the cabinet and made his way quickly back out of the house. As he locked the door he heard a very, very quiet beep. With a growing feeling of seething anger, he turned to look over his shoulder at a separately wired camera.

That fucking bastard!

He slammed the door and turned, just before a siren was heard throughout the area. Grimmjow growled and sprinted off through the yard. Damn it! Damned fence! He spun around and saw the orange haired officer. He growled, but put his hands up as Ichigo, and another officer circled around him. He growled and knelt to the ground, dropping his bag with the tea set next to him, careful not to break the merchandise. He didn't want to have to pay for that as well.

"Damn it! EASY carrot-top!" Grimmjow shouted to the young officer. Ichigo smirked and dug his knee into his back.

"You should've been more careful, Grimmy. Yamamoto's cameras alert the police station if someone breaks in." Ichigo shut the handcuffs around Grimmjow's wrist and pulled him up with the blonde officer's help. He growled once more as they lead him to the squad car and pushed him inside. Ichigo slid into the passenger seat while the blonde one, the one who was at Ulquiorra's, took the wheel. They turned off the siren and Ichigo sighed.

"You've really done it this time, Jeagerjaques."

"Fuck off." Grimmjow hissed. He leaned his head against the back of the seat and closed his eyes. This wasn't fucking happening. This had to have been one of the worst days ever.

All of this because he couldn't get that damn Ciffer off his mind.

Shit.

"Ciffer-san."

Ulquiorra looked up at the timid voice of his best male waiter, Izuru Kira, the only male besides him on 'council'. He had been recommended by a man who had been his sempai in high school. "Yes Kira-san?"

"A cop car just drove by very slowly and it worried some of the customers." Izuru's wide, sky blue eyes held no questions, which was one of the reasons Ulquiorra had agreed to take him on, only concern.

He sighed though, this should have been expected. Leading the officials to believe a known criminal lived with him had not been to wise a move. Too late to take that careless decision now. Just as he opened his mouth, Yuzu's voice rose an octave in the kitchen. Resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, he made his way into the steamy room and came to stand beside the unaware woman with Kira behind him.

"Um, yes this is Los Noches," The Kurosaki squeaked.

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed at the voice on the other end, "Yeah, I know where I called." Grimmjow's rough voice barked out. "Put Murcielago on the phone."
Yuzu's eyes widened. "We don't ha-"

"Ulquiorra dammit! Hey, wait the hell up, Strawberry! My time's not up yet! What do you mean that's your sister?" His voice took on a visible edge of nervousness as he said these words.

"Just, can you give the phone to Ulquiorra? Please."

Ulquiorra tried not to smirk at this as Yuzu gazed up at him with confused. "It's the police station."

He took the phone, ignoring the slightly worried looks his two employees were giving him. "That is not how you should speak to my workers if you want help."

"Shut up," Grimmjow growled.

"Oh?"

"Look…I messed up, alright? I was on a…look, you know what I'm getting at."

"Do I?" he was having too much fun with this. He leaned against the counter, surprised at how…comfortable he was talking to this man, considering all that had happened…he shook his head. He needed to get that out of his mind.

"Ulquiorra, look, I need help."

"And you called me?"

Ulquiorra heard Grimmjow growl and his eyes furrowed softly. What was this sentiment that was flooding his chest? He must be getting sick or something, it was about time, it was the middle of winter, of course.

"Can…would you….bail me out?"

Ulquiorra knew that question would come up, and of course he had plenty of money to do so. And he could also tell how much that hurt Grimmjow's pride to just ask a question like that. He also wondered why he was the first person the blunette would call. He shook his head, and his mood gradually grew grim.

"And you think I should after that stunt you pulled the other night?" that was the last thing he intended to bring up, but for some reason, he couldn't stop himself.

"Damn it, what stunt! Fuck, leave me alone Kurosa—" the line went dead then, and Ulqui let the phone linger to his ear a little longer than needed. He slowly set the phone back on the receiver. Grimmjow actually expected him to help after…after that?

He looked at Yuzu and Izuru, and then at the rest of the staff. Surely the conversation hadn't been that loud. He sighed, casting a glance at Yuzu who was biting her lip and Kira who was trying is hardest not to look at him. "It was just a fri-" The sound of disbelieve annoyed him, "A former partner."

They all nodded wisely and continued on their way. Annoying—but loyal—snoops.

We apologize for the snow boys! Please don't curse us with anymore of our own! Besides that, Grimmjow's arrested and Ulquiorra is faced with the choice of bailing him out or not! And the whole issue hinges on something Grimmjow can't remember. Will it work out? Will anyone at the restaurant catch on? Please review!
~NightDreamers