Hey everybody! Sorry I didn't update this fic, but someone requested Asylum be updated. Since I hadn't touched it in a while, I decided it might be best for that one to be updated. Anyway, today is obviously Born to the Shadows. If you don't read Asylum (shame on you) then you probably didn't see the news I posted. Since I decided against an x-mas fic this year, I instead finished up this fic =) There are around 24/25 chapters, so you have quite the way to go until it's all posted. I hope you all enjoy this fic, I tried my hardest not to rush it =)

Shiro: I wouldn't a minded.

Ichi: I would have! This is like the only fic where I'm the boss in and out of bed! This is awesome! XD

Grimm: Speak for yourself. *pouting*

Chapter 13

The twins are seated on the couch, both nervously wringing the bottom of their shirts. A meeting has been called, yet no one has arrived yet. They've either run into complications, or they're attempting to be fashionably late. Normally, it's the later... but you never know. Grimmjow is pacing the living room irately, hands clasped behind his back as he grumbles to himself. Finally, the other can't wait any longer and faces the twins seriously.

"I don't want you out on the streets any more this week," Grimmjow states. "Barragan has learned we're harboring the assassin and he wants to sway their allegiance. He'll do anything to get what he wants, so you're just going to have to stay here in the casino until we can convince him otherwise. Got it?"

"... You really think you can keep me locked up here?" Ichigo wonders quietly.

"For now, I'm gonna have to! I wont' chance you getting hurt or killed because of your own fucking ego!" he snaps. "I know you don't like it, I know you don't want to stay put, but for just this once just listen to me!"

there's a knock at the door and Grimmjow hurries to answer it, the twins sending glances at one another. It's like having a conversation without words to them, using only expressions. Ichigo glowers at Shiro, who dips his brows in a begging manner. The orange head is about to burst and his twin is begging for him to reconsider. Ichigo raises a challenging brow, which is responded to by Shiro dragging his hands down his face in relent. Finally the pale twin sits defeated and Ichigo grins in triumph.

Quietly, the orange head walks into the bedroom to grab his things. He looks out the bedroom window, there's no fire escape to catch him this time. He'll have to climb to the rooftop to get away. From there, hopping the roofs will be easy enough. Ichigo can hear the muffled voices in the other room, all of them loud in aggravation. He takes this opportunity to jump in the shower... likely the last hot shower he'll have for a while.

Grimmjow catches the sound of the shower turning on, sighing in relief at the knowledge Ichigo is still here. He honestly didn't expect the other to take his demand so well. That's one reason he risked injecting that GPS in him. He turns his attention back to those filling his living room. Shiro is quiet, which means he's either distracted or he's trying like hell to keep a secret. Knowing the other, the minute he opens his mouth any secrets worth paying attention to will spill out. Though he wants to badger his brother until he cracks, they have more important matters to worry about.

Once he feels clean enough, which doesn't take long, Ichigo slips from the shower without turning off the water. It's only been a few minutes, so Grimmjow will think he's still wallowing in the steam or something. He dries off quickly, catching sight of something in the body length mirror. Frowning in both curiosity and irritation, he moves closer to the mirror and checks again. On the meat of his ass is a red mark, one he recognizes as a needle mark. Obviously he would recognize that, he uses them frequently in his line of work. Hesitantly, he runs his fingers over the mark. There's something beneath his skin, something hard and small.

"Oh hell no," he mutters in a whisper. "He wouldn't do something like that... would he?"

Grabbing a thin blade from his pile of discarded clothes, Ichigo runs the tip in a tiny horizontal line over the bump. Carefully, he presses down on the sides and watches a small metal ball fall from the injury. Not even bothering to grab a bandage, the orange head pulls on his black clothing and gathers his bags. Thinking on it, he also picks up the metal ball and carefully sticks it in his belongings.

Without a sound, Ichigo slides the bedroom window open and balances on the sill. It isn't far from the roof, he can shimmy up the pipe from the gutter to reach it. Checking the door again, he starts throwing his bags and belongings to the roof. Once they're there, he climbs onto the ledge and shuts the window. Ichigo inches his way to the corner of the building, carefully climbing the pipe bolted there to reach his destination.

When he clears the edge of the roof, Ichigo gathers his stuff again and heads off toward the next building. He's not going the way he normally does, they already saw him take the fire escape of the neighboring building, so he travels the length of the casino as he pulls his mask over his face. Before leaping to the next building, he pulls on his gloves and shoulders his bags.

Ichigo dives for the next roof, pillowing his landing by moving into a somersault. It's a smooth movement that leaves him on his feet once more. He stops only a moment to look back at the casino, no hesitation or regret lying within his mind, and then disappears into the night.

Shiro has been irritating Grimmjow, the blue haired man glaring at his younger sibling heatedly through the entire meeting. It's bad enough Ichigo is sulking in the shower, he doesn't need Shiro acting weird as well. When he dismisses the others, the pale twin makes a fast getaway with Gin. His excuse being he promised an erotic night to his lover. Not his best excuse, but it got him away from Grimmjow before he started babbling.

"This is ridiculous," the other huffs as he heads to the bathroom door. "Ichigo! Get your ass out here, you're using up all my hot water!"

No one answers him, the other sighing and leaning against the door. His fist drops back to knock on the door again, hoping the other just fell asleep or something... he doesn't think he could handle it if Ichigo chose not to speak to him. Grimmjow's never taken cold shoulders well.

"Ichigo, I'm not kidding! I'll break the damn door down if I have to!" he shouts, receiving no answer. "Look, I know you're not happy, but this is for your own good... Ichigo?"

A streak of panic hits him and Grimmjow reaches for the knob, finding the door unlocked. The shower is running, he heard as much, but no one is in the bathroom. He rushes to the closet where Ichigo left his things, but that's empty as well. With a roar of fury, Grimmjow slams his fist so hard against the wall he leaves a hole.

"Son of a bitch!" he shouts.

He grabs his phone and starts dialing Shiro, now knowing what the other was trying to hide. He knew Ichigo was gonna leave and he didn't stop him! The streets of Los Noches will eat Ichigo alive, they can't leave him out there for long. Especially not with Barragan looking for him. When Shiro doesn't pick up, Grimmjow searches his apps for the GPS locator connected to Ichigo. It comes up quickly and he breathes a sigh of relief. His next call is to Stark.

"I just left there," the brunette sighs tiredly. "What could be so important you have to bother me again?"

"Ichigo took off!" Grimmjow growls. "I need you to send Shiro back to me, he's on your way home, and we're gonna look for him. I know where he is, but I'm gonna need help bringing him back."

"Just wait a couple hours, he'll come home."

"He took all his shit with him!"

"... I'll get Shiro," the sniper relents wearily. "We'll meet you outside the casino."

Grimmjow agrees and grabs a jacket, hurrying out the door and grabbing Nnoitra on the way. The lanky man is the guard for tonight, not that he ever does more than sleep on the job, and he'll need him to corner Ichigo. The taller man sputters in protest when he's shoved into the elevator. Grimmjow explains everything on the way down.

Ichigo stops in an alleyway a few blocks from the casino, catching sight of a cat rummaging in the trash. He coaxes the feline over, petting it gently with one hand as the other readies a needle. He sets the tracking device in the cat's back, lifting the skin to make it easier on the cat when he slides the needle in. Afterward, he lets the cat run off and heads in the other direction.

At the sound of Shiro's voice, his heart skips a beat and the orange head immediately drops to the ground. A bottle covered in a brow paper bag is in one hand, his overcoat only the last layer of many underneath, and a cap covers a head of ratty brown hair. He looks every bit the homeless drunk he's trying to be... even his clothes stink like they've never been washed thanks to his roll in the dumpster. When Shiro and the others step around the corner, all they see is a drunk passed out on the sidewalk.

Nnoitra gives him a kick for good measure, which Ichigo doesn't respond to. The taller man huffing in disappointment to find the drunk really is passed out, shoving his hands into his pockets as Stark walks around him. His eyes drift to the homeless man, yet he walks past without a second thought. Shiro and Gin are beside Grimmjow, who's leading the way with his phone.

"It says he was right down this alley, but went to the end and turned left," he grumbles. "Nnoitra, you and Stark head back the other way, lets see if we can't trap him."

"... Ya wanna trap a child a the Shihoin?" Gin snorts in humor. "I didn' know yer ego was so fuckin' huge, Grimmy."

"It's not!"

"Then why the hell do ya think ya of all people in this great world'll succeed where all others have failed?" the silver haired man asks pointedly. "'Cause ya ain't the first that's tried an' ya sure as hell won' be the last. If ya succeed, however, ya'll be a fuckin' legend."

"I'm sure they didn't think to inject them with a GPS while they were asleep," Grimmjow smiles wickedly. "Now, let's trap us a fucking orange head!"

Ichigo rolls his eyes beneath the bill of his cap, resisting the urge to snort derisively at the comment. He listens to their feet move away from him, carefully glancing around to make sure they're gone before getting up. He makes sure to make his moves sluggish, leaning heavily against the building before stumbling a few steps forward.

"Hey, buddy!"

He stills as Grimmjow calls out to him, the larger man heading his way. The knowledge that Ichigo can look like anyone and anything only serves to help the others see past his disguises, or at least... that's what they're hoping. A hand grips Ichigo's shoulder and turns him, the orange head immediately putting a hand to his mouth to feign gagging.

"Gross, man," Grimmjow frowns. "Hey, I'm looking for someone. Have you seen anyone around here? Anyone at all?"

Ichigo drops his hand, looking to the ground with his fingers stroking his chin in thought. An incoherent jumble of words fall from his lips, the stink of tequila catching Grimmjow by surprise. He puts a hand beneath Ichigo's chin, suspicion strong within his gut, and lifts it to view the hidden face. Blue eyes, not amber, stare back at him. They're clouded with an alcoholic fog, the lid half-mast and sleepy.

"Sorry for bothering you," Grimmjow sighs. "Be careful tonight, okay? It's getting cold out and Barragan's men might be stalking about. You get yourself to a shelter, buddy, we don't need innocent people caught in the cross fire."

"I'll head tha' why," Ichigo slurs in a voice not his own. "Ya be good, man, 'kay? Be good an' I'll be safe. Fair trade, yeah?"

"Yeah, sure," the blue haired man chuckles. "I'll be good and you be safe."

He pats Ichigo's shoulder in a friendly gesture, carefully pushing him in the direction of the shelter. Ichigo holds his bottle like a lifeline, waving goodbye as he stumbles away. After turning back to the path ahead, he starts singing an Irish drinking song loudly and obnoxiously. He's already set up his tent and hideaway, storing his bags within, so he's not worried about being discovered. This time he's back on Shiro's streets, the spot much better than his last.

Within the streets is a bridge, a broken sewer grate in the wall beneath said structure. It was repaired not long ago, secured with a complicated lock to keep out the homeless. His bags are stuffed in the hollow of a tree near there, he just needed to pick up the money he stashed just in case he ran out. Since he needs to make a fresh start, he'll be needing that money. Ichigo checks the inside pocket in his coat, grinning to himself and patting the wad of money from his surprise attacks before. He also grabbed Vega's phone out of the potted plant at the hotel, it might come in handy for any anonymous calls he needs to make.

Ichigo grabs his stuff from the hollowed tree, carrying it down to the sewer grate. It's circular and large, about as tall as he is, and stretches from the bottom of the ledge he walks on to halfway to the bridge. It's a maintenance tunnel long since abandoned. He pulls out his lock-picks and takes a few seconds to pop the lock, quietly opening the grate and slipping inside.

The water is low within the ditch, the lights hanging along the top of the hallways are dim, and the ledges to walk along are at least three people wide. He can see the appeal to those without a home. There's an alcove not too far in, a large square of space likely used to store equipment during construction, and that's where Ichigo pitches his pup tent. He won't be making a fire, as he doesn't want the smoke drifting outside and giving away his position, so he settles for the electric stove for camping. It's battery operated and he packed plenty of those.

"There we go," he says in satisfaction.

He sits down and pulls rummages for some food, finding only some trail mix he neglected before. With a disappointed sigh, he realizes he'll have to go topside to get food. It doesn't take long to down the mix, the other pulling a bottle of water out afterward. After drink about half, he grabs his cell and calls Shiro.

"Yeah?" the pale copy answers.

"Hey, Shi, what's up?"

"What's up? Seriously? I'm freezin' my fuckin' ass off lookin' fer ya 'cause Grimm's an asshole, that's what's up! He's followin' some GPS shit he tagged ya wit."

"He's following a cat," Ichigo laughs. "But don't tell him that. I did it to keep him busy. Fucking tool thinks he can one up me... he was standing right in front of me, had his hand on my shoulder, and talked to me! He couldn't even tell it was me, Shiro! You wouldn't been able to, I'm sure."

"... Maybe. Yer disguises er fuckin' good, Ichi."

"Thank you."

"So... What's the plan, Baby Bitch?" Shiro wonders. "Ya thinkin' a provin' Grimm wrong 'bout him keepin' ya locked up an' then comin' back?"

"I don't know, Shiro. He's possessive and controlling, I don't need that in my line of work," Ichigo sighs as he rubs the back of his neck. "I mean... If he can't trust in my abilities, I don't want him wasting my time."

There's silence on the other line, and then Shiro's voice is arguing with another. He can hear the crackling of two people fighting over the cellphone. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the blue haired man overheard the conversation... or at least half of it. With an irritated sigh, he contemplates hanging up. Finally, Grimmjow forces the phone out of Shiro's grip.

"Ichigo!" Grimmjow snaps into the receiver. "I don't know how you're evading me, but it's not gonna be good for you when I get my hands on you! You get your ass back here right now, I'm not even kidding!"

"Put Shiro back on," Ichigo demands.

"Ichigo, I'm not playing this game..."

Ichigo hangs up and shuts his phone off, tucking it away in one of his bags. He's not about to engage in a never-ending argument with Grimmjow. With his luck, the other will be having Ulquiorra tracing his phone. He lies back on the cool cement, pillowing his head in his arms, and stares up at the dark ceiling. His mission is so close to the end, the punishments so close to being discovered, and now he has to locate Yorouchi's past love. It shouldn't take him that long, and then he can go home to his clan.

"Not long now," he sighs to himself. "Not long at all."

With the absence of Grimmjow and the casino, Ichigo isn't bound to anything other than his mission. No more distractions, no more work, and no more gorgeous sex god ruffling his feathers. Ichigo sheds his clothing, pouring a bottle of water into a plastic bowl and grabbing a soft rag to clean up. It's the best thing he can do for a bath at the moment. With a soft sigh, he pulls on an oversized jersey and a clean pair of boxers. The orange head crawls into his tent and curls up in his blanket, hating the fact he misses the presence beside him as he falls asleep.

I also mentioned that I really surprised myself with this fic. I'll let you guys guess what surprised me! XD You should know by the last chapter. If you don't, that's okay... I'll just tell you ;p Anyway, there's your new update! I hope you enjoyed it =) I haven't yet figured out what i'll be finishing next on my Bleach list, I'm working on my Supernatural fic at the moment. When I decide I'm sure you'll all be the first to know... you're probably the only ones that care ;p

Ichi: I care.

Shiro: I don'.

Ichi: Yes he does, he's just being a dick.

Shiro: ... Nope, I really don'.

Ichi: ... Yes he does, don't listen to him. *whispers*