Hey guys. Update – yeah I can't believe it too… Anyways, thanks to Meany, boogermeister, confusion no hime, sorry for the anon, tealeyedbeing, Malone, Naima-sama and xanthaphobic.
Thanks to you again for your amazing patience.
Fourteen – the first crack in the wall
Kisuke Urahara was fairly good looking in the dishevelled eccentric-genius kind of way. His blonde hair was held down to his head by a simple green beanie hat, and the stubble on his chin was the kind that was just enough to look cool…not unclean. He tapped at the computer and entered in some more of the complicated code easily by hand. Whereas others would put in bits of the code and leave the computer to build the rest, he did it by hand, simply because he could.
He currently worked in a freelance, highly-research intensive company called Division 12. Looking through the Plexiglas walls of his office and into the main floor it was obvious no-one here was footing the bill for all their research.
A nice, very wealthy family was footing the bill - the Shihoin's. It also helped Division 12 that Kisuke was currently fucking the young, sexy soon-to-be head of the family Yoruichi Shoihoin. He put his papers down, he really liked her. Sure she was this multi-billionaire with the whole world watching her, but she was a normal woman deep down with a great sense of humour and a killer body.
It also didn't bother him that she was rumoured to be linked to Sousuke Aizen. Kisuke knew for now, he was untouchable – Division 12 had access to data Las Noches wanted and while Kisuke was head researcher, Aizen would never get his hands on it.
BUT, if Aizen discovered that he had taken his girlfriend from behind yesterday and several times before that, Aizen would not hesitate to kill him – valuable data or not.
But what bothered Kisuke more was the fact, his current fuck buddy seemed intent on keeping her ties with Aizen.
He sighing and went back to his goofy typing – it was his fault really. Yoruichi had never stated she wanted anything more than sex, it was very stupid of him (strange for a guy with an exceptionally high IQ) to think that it was, or could be, anything more.
He sat back and pushed the chair and leaned back and sighed, he stared into the laboratory and let out a huge yawn. As a habit he picked up the cane he kept by his desk and began to twirl it around. He didn't need it but he had found it in some stall at an outdoor market and decided it was cool.
He shut his eyes, twirling the cane, his mind revolving around Yoruichi, Aizen and his work when the buzzer on his intercom went.
"Yes?" he replied to the sound.
"Kisuke, there's someone to see you"
"Who is it?" he asked, sighing.
"Gin Ichimaru"
Kisuke's eyebrows rose, Aizen's second in charge? Speak of the devil.
He wanted a minute or so, still twirling before, putting the cane down and walking out of his office. He went out the south way which led straight to the reception. He dug his hands into his jeans pockets, as the door slid open.
As usual, the second in command was sitting, legs crossed but still insultingly laid-back. His silver hair framed the handsome face, and he still had that creepy smile he always had.
"Mr Urahara" he drawled, standing and extending out his arm "good to see you"
"Likewise Mr Ichimaru…how may I help you?"
He looked to the unnaturally still receptionist and stretched the smile out "In private, if you please"
Kisuke nodded and led him to a conference room off another hallway and gestured for him to sit, before doing so himself.
"How may I help you?"
"Aizen still extends his offer…he's preparing to put another two million down"
Kisuke let out a whistle "that's what…Twelve Million now?" he leaned forward and scratched his chin "how much before he starts threatening to break my legs?"
"Aizen can be generous"
"I bet he can" Kisuke leaned back and smiled, he waited for Gin Ichimaru to say something else but he didn't.
Gin simply sat back and draped his lean arms over the armrests.
"I'm surprised you haven't pushed yet"
In a move that surprised Kisuke (and deep down even Ichimaru himself), Gin shrugged and stifled a yawn "it's obvious you will rejects his attempts, I grow bored of coming here every week"
Kisuke simply raised his eyebrows "Surely that sort of talk will get you in trouble"
"It will?" Gin looked confused and cocked his head.
Kisuke ignored the slight chill that went through his spine – there were purely smart types, who were mostly academics, their brains didn't spill into life. But like Kisuke, Gin Ichimaru was smart in everyway, except Gin Ichimaru was more devious.
Kisuke nodded and stood "Well, sorry to waste your time, maybe you'll tell him it's useless?"
"You know him…I'll see you next week"
Kisuke nodded "I look forward to it" he replied his tone free of any sarcasm.
XxXxXxXxXx
Ichigo and Grimmjow bolted upright as Ichigo's room door, flung open and crashed to the wall formerly adjacent to it.
Starrk went and slammed it shut and marched up to the bed, taking in Grimmjow but not being phased by his presence. His calm and placid demeanour has disappeared and his eyes were burning, he grabbed Ichigo by the neck.
"If you're going to do something, do it soon!" he shook Ichigo.
Ichigo coughed and spluttered as he struggled to breath out…or in for that matter. Grimmjow stared at Starrk…he had never, ever seen Starrk like this, not in Las Noches a few years ago and not even in the bar. Grimmjow felt…scared, he had been around Starrk long enough to go that Starrk rarely lost his temper, but when he did you shouldn't be within ten miles of him…literally.
Ichigo coughed and spluttered again, this time more weakly, his arms flapped at Stark's ones meekly. Grimmjow's eyes widened and a small gasp escaped his mouth.
It was his own gasp that set him out of his trance and got him pulling at Starrk's outstretched hand.
"Starrk, you're killing him!" Grimmjow pulled at the number one, Ichigo would really die in minutes if he didn't stop him "STARRK, FOR FUCK'S SAKE! Think of Lily!"
Starrk slowly let Ichigo go, who fell to the floor and scrambled back towards the bed and leaned against it, gasping for air and staring at Starrk.
Starrk slowly turned to Grimmjow and grabbed him too, Grimmjow didn't hide the flinch…it looked like serving drinks had not made Starrk lose his edge.
"Lily! This is all your fault!"
"Starrk, please" Ichigo rasped as Starrk was now strangling Grimmjow with both hands "Aizen is at fault not Grimmjow, he was forced too, they got Nel!"
Starrk let Grimmjow go and sat on the bed.
Ichigo stared at Grimmjow whose face had gone a deathly pale. Grimmjow was crouched on all four's his back rising and lowering rather violently.
"They won't let me see her!" he snapped "if you're doing something, do it soon…preferably fuckin' now!"
"Ssh, ssh" Ichigo placed a finger to his lips "give it time Starrk, I can-"
"She may not have fuckin' time" Starrk hissed back.
"I'm trying my best" Ichigo said in a pained voice.
Starrk frowned and sighed and relaxed visibly. He stumbled back and sunk into his chair.
"We'll get her back Starrk, I'm sure of it" Ichigo pressed, he could understand he had two sisters himself. He could understand how he felt, he looked at Grimmjow who had now gotten up and dressed. He was sitting at Ichigo's balcony and was smoking slowly.
The room was silent for a few minutes. All Ichigo could think of was how he was going to get everyone out. He hadn't even been formulating a plan, all he'd been doing was hooking up with Grimmjow. He stared over at Grimmjow and a weird feeling ran through his chest…how did he feel about Grimmjow? Sure, Grimmjow was a crush but now, what was he? He watched Grimmjow take a drag lift his perfect chin and jaw to release the smoke.
Starrk watched Ichigo and sighed "You seem pre-occupied with something else…Ichigo" he said loudly.
The orange haired man and teal-haired man heads snapped up and they turned to Starrk.
"Looks like Ichigo's dream come true right" Starrk said, dry humour laced through his tone.
"Just…leave it" Grimmjow muttered flicking out his cigarette and turning. He crossed the room slowly and shut the door quietly. He leaned against the door for a few seconds before pushing off and walking down the hallway.
He ran a hand through his hair and gritted his teeth…shit, Lily was in danger. He'd have to talk to Harribel…even though he liked keeping minimum interaction with the rest of the top ten. He came down the stairs and stopped as the front door opened. He waited to see who it was and frowned…Ulquiorra.
"Grimmjow" Ulquiorra began slowly.
"Ulquiorra, where is Lily?"
Ulquiorra stared at him with large green eyes "that is none of your concern"
"I think it is" Grimmjow pulled himself up.
"You're quite close with Kurosaki aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"Uncharacteristically close" Ulquiorra noted, gently placing his hands in his pocket "he's a strange one, that Kurosaki"
"What do you mean?" Grimmjow sighed, Ulquiorra still spoke it that bullshit tone.
"He doesn't quite fit…in here…or in this lifestyle, wouldn't you say?"
"I really wouldn't know"
"Strange" Ulquiorra started walking past Grimmjow "I thought you would be the best person to tell me that…I think you know him…inside and out"
Grimmjow's face flushed and he growled as Ulquiorra's footsteps had gotten lower and lower…
XxXxXxXxXx
Ichigo walked next to Harribel in silence. He chewed his lips for some few seconds.
"What's up with you?" Harribel muttered quietly as they left the building.
Ichigo remained silent before stopping, he waited for her to walk ahead and stop and turn around, he lowered his gaze and then looked straight at her.
"Where's Lily?" he asked in a firm tone.
"Lily?" Harribel looked blank.
"You know what I mean Harribel" Ichigo retorted smoothly.
She sighed and walked forward some more and leaned against the car, that was waiting for them. She looked at him and tossed her shiny hair before digging her hands into the leather jacket she donned. She could see he was giving himself some restraint. His body was a little too rigid, his eyes were dark and she could see him clenching his hands in the jeans pockets. She sighed, he would have had some allegiance to Starrk…
She pushed off and stood tall "That is none of your business, Ichigo"
"What? I'm in the ten-"
"Yes but I'm number three, and you're number eight" Harribel responded coolly "…know your place Ichigo" she said before he could argue "…or else, things won't go so smoothly"
Ichigo frowned, was Harribel threatening him? What was going on? He simply gave a sharp nod and got into the passenger seat of the car. Harribel stood still for a few seconds before entering and slotting the key into the ignition and starting the car.
She drove off hastily and barely let the gates open before pushing through them with the powerful car. She was driving normally but her movements seemed a little too erratic for someone as calm as Harribel.
Ichigo waited and sighed, obviously she was more wound up than him. So he waited. He waited till they were on the expressway speeding back towards the nearby city where Ichigo's dusty, empty apartment lay.
"What's the matter Harribel?"
"You think Lily Starrk, is the most of your problems?" Harribel snapped, she stopped and chewed her lip. She took her green eyes off him for a second and turned back calmly.
"I don't know…"
"Try this, there's a leak in Las Noches, the big boss man constantly has you in a grip for answers"
"What kind of answers?"
"Don't be dense" she scolded.
Ichigo said nothing and leaned back.
"You're under heavy surveillance Ichigo" Halibel muttered.
"What?"
"You are being watched, by Ulquiorra"
"What? Why?"
"Ulquiorra thinks there's something about you…and frankly he's right" Harribel said, calming down "now Ichigo…I have some…some sort of…respect for you…I'd hate for him to be right"
She slammed on the brakes and looked at Ichigo with her beautiful green eyes and got out. Ichigo stared at the dashboard before getting out. How could Ulquiorra be onto him? He hadn't done anything suspicious in a while…apart from feed information to Renji but that was necessary.
He walked after Harribel towards the bar, towards whoever's fingers they were going to crush and dug his hands in his pockets, patiently.
"ICHIGO!" a voice called.
Ichigo turned and stared, Rukia…or was it? She looked so…small, smaller than usual.
Ichigo looked helplessly at Harribel, who gave him a look of 'sort it, or else' and walked into the bar. He waited for Harribel to disappear completely before grabbing Rukia's forearm and dragging her away from the building.
"Where the fuck have you been?" she hissed at him "I've been losing sleep over you, and I see you with some big breasted chick? What the fuck is going on, you bastard! I thought you were dead!"
Ichigo slapped his hand flat against her mouth to stop her talking…at least he knew Ikkaku had kept his mouth shut.
"Rukia, just shut up and listen to me closely…what I tell you, you cannot tell anyone…NO ONE"
She nodded still glaring daggers with the blue eyes.
"I'm undercover"
She froze under Ichigo's grip and her mouth dropped.
"Just…just keep it quiet"
"Ichigo" a voice snapped.
Ichigo looked up and saw Harribel walk out…she narrowed her eyes and walked back in.
"I need to go" Ichigo let her go.
Ichigo swallowed, it was getting harder to mask his identity completely, he was running into too many people, especially police officers and now one of the top ten were on him.
"Who was she?"
"An old girlfriend" Ichigo lied "we, er, parted on not too good terms"
"She seems familiar" Harribel said nonchalantly, leaning against the bar.
Ichigo swallowed, shit, had she seen Rukia in Starrk's bar with Ichigo before? It wasn't unlikely, he had often dragged Rukia there…and Harribel could have been there plenty times trying to re-recruit Grimmjow and Stark.
Ichigo pulled at his collar, even though it was loose, it was like a rope getting tighter.
"Where is he?" Harribel asked the pretty bar maid "if he doesn't come out now, YOU will suffer" she said in her calm tone.
The young woman, nodded and scuttled off…Ichigo was instantly reminded of Lily and suddenly he felt awful…had he indirectly dragged them into this? No, they would have gotten Starrk back anyway right? Aizen wanted to build back the top ten…what if he was planning something big?
Ichigo refrained from cursing…how could he be so stupid? Aizen wanted something…something big…but what was it? Did Harribel know? As she was one of the top four she would be likely privy to the much grander scale of Aizen's plans…but then again Aizen didn't get to were we was by just trusting anyone.
"Ichigo" Harribel snapped at him "Focus, I don't need you sulking right now"
"Yes" he muttered and stood tall waiting for the barmaid and whoever they were going to injure severely to come out.