"What is he doing?" Ikkaku leaned over Rukia's shoulder as she fast forwarded through security footage of the embassy. They watched on black and white film as Grimmjow moved along hallways and tested the door knobs of several private offices.

"I don't know," she answered. "But this was yesterday, right after his walk with Ichigo."

"Did you ask the kid what happened?"

"Not much, Grimmjow was his usual cheery self."

"Then what's he trying to do?" They watched him pull something from his pocket and slide it into the lock on one door. It took him seconds to open it. "Shit, what room is that?"

"Urahara's office."

"I'm guessing there are no cameras in there."

"No, but Urahara didn't think anything was missing."

"So what do we do now?"

"Urahara said to keep a lid on it, we'll just keep an eye on him."

"But what's he after?"

Rukia leaned back in her chair and turned it to face Ikkaku. "My guess, is he's looking out for himself. He's been through Hell, and he's not going to trust us one hundred percent."

"Makes sense."

"Well, I hope that's all it is, because otherwise, there are some pretty serious alternatives we have to consider."

"That he's snooping around for Aizen."

She shut her eyes and let out a long breath. "Let's hope that is not the case."

He nodded. "I'll keep my eyes on him."

"Good."

Grimmjow stared at the teen sitting across from him. His meal had gone untouched, instead his plastic finger splint tapped on the cafeteria table incessantly.

"Grimmjow, can you stop." His hand stilled; Ichigo looked at his plate. "Why aren't you eating?"

"Not hungry."

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Seriously, Grimmjow, are you still pissed about yesterday?" They hadn't really talked much since their walk but Grimmjow had remained glued to him all morning. Ichigo couldn't figure out what was going on with him.

"No."

"Then what?"

"If I asked you to leave right now, would you?"

"What, you mean the table?"

"Tokyo."

"You are still pissed."

"I'm not."

"Then why do you want me to leave?"

"I want you to ask if you can."

"Of course I can, they're doing me a favour by letting me stay."

But blue eyes narrowed. "Just ask."

"Why?"

"Because it will make me feel better."

"I don't see how."

"Ichigo."

"Okay fine, I'll ask." He turned back to his meal but Grimmjow was still eyeing him, "What, you want me to do it right now?"

"Yes."

"Ugh." Ichigo dropped his fork and stood. "Fine." Grimmjow didn't move to follow. "Are you coming?"

"No. Don't tell them it was my idea. Just say you're worried about school or something and you want to go home. Then come tell me what they say."

"Fine," he sighed and left. Grimmjow watched him go. As soon as he was out of sight, he left the table as well and headed in the opposite direction. He cut down several corridors, picking up his pace each corner he turned until he came to a washroom and stepped inside, holding the door so it was barely open.

He waited. Quick footsteps were heard in the hallway. A few seconds later he glimpsed a bald head; Ikkaku hurried by. Grimmjow watched him go, waiting until he was further down the hall before slipping back out.

So they were on to him.

Shit.

Ichigo found Grimmjow by the window on the second floor. He met the teen's eyes and read what happened immediately.

"They said no."

Ichigo nodded slowly. "They said I might be in danger because of my association with you."

"Bullshit."

"There was that sniper in the park."

"I explained that to Urahara. Aizen said he would 'assist' me in getting captured. The bullet Renji took was meant for me. You're not in danger, at least, not in that sense."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

"Grimmjow, don't lie to me."

"Do me a favour."

"What?"

"When Ikkaku walks by, slow him down for me."

"What?"

"Thanks, kid." Grimmjow hurried back down the stairs. Ichigo stood, confused, watching after him.

"Hey, Ichigo." He was startled by the agent who came from just down the hall. Ikkaky glanced down the stairs where Grimmjow had just gone.

"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked startled, wondering what Grimmjow was up to and how he had known Ikkaku would walk by.

"Sorry, I've got a meeting."

"Wait." The other slowed by didn't stop. Ichigo struggled to come up with something to say to stall him. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sorry Ichigo, I really have to go." Ikkaky half ran down the stairs and Ichigo leaned over the rail to watch him spin on the spot in the main lobby. A low curse dropped from him as he looked down the four corridors with no clue as to which way Grimmjow went. Ichigo stepped back. He didn't know what Grimmjow was doing, but he'd just bought him the time he needed.

The whir of a rotating camera droned in the hallway. Grimmjow counted the electronic drone until it clicked and reversed in the opposite directions.

Now.

Six seconds. He moved just behind the turning lens and got to the office door, thrust the pins in the lock and jerked it open just as the gears clicked and began to turn back. He was in and had the door shut before any monitor could capture him.

The office was a mess. It was suited the personality of the hulking American agent Grimmjow had watched drive away the day before. He fingered through papers but what he really wanted was the laptop on the desk so he moved to that. The chair squelched under him, he turned it on and began riffling through the drawers for a hint to a password. He didn't figure Zaraki for a sentimental man, but when he fished out a photo of a pink haired child he paused. Yachiru.

Bingo. American Idiot.

It took no time for him to sift through the files. Grimmjow may not have a standard education, but he had been trained to collect information. He found his own file easily enough, scanned through quickly but there was little left to surprise him. Gin was right, his status was set at "indefinite custody." His psych report suggested long-term care in a high security facility—not a prison, but an institution off the grid—far from the normal human life he sought.

He swallowed this and moved on. He found Isshin Kurosaki, read about his involvement with Urahara and Aizen, and his refusal to continue the work as soon as it was picked up by the government. Then he found Ichigo. This file he read word for word.

"Motherfuckers."

He slammed his fist onto the desk when he read the conclusion of the report. But his anger died when he heard the rattle of keys. He stood when the door swung open. Kenpachi must have heard him because the gun was already out.

"Dammit, kid, what are you doing in here?!" Grimmjow stood where he was, cornered. He had thought Kenpachi gone for a few days, he had no backup plan. "Answer me!"

"No."

"Come over here."

"No."

"Kid, whatever you are doing, it's over. Get over here or I'm coming over there to get you." The office was small, only the desk stood between them, but Grimmjow lowered himself, ready to run.

"There's no way you're getting past me," Kenpachi warned. "Think this through."

"I have." Grimmjow bolted. A slew of loose papers flew into the agent's face as Grimmjow leapt onto and off of the desk. He was over Zaraki's shoulder before the agent knew what had happened.

"Bastard, come back here!" But before chasing after him, Kenpachi spun the computer around on the desk and saw the face of the orange haired teen still on the monitor. "Shit." By the time he'd made it to the hall, he already saw a guard staggering to get back to his feet. "Dammit kid, you brought this on yourself."

"Lock down?" Ichigo asked, when a guard hauled him into the nearest room and locked the door behind him. "Does that mean we're under attack?"

"Just stay down." He was shoved into the far corner and they both crouched there.

"He's moving down the east wing." A voice cracked on the man's radio.

"Who is it?" Ichigo asked, fear growing in him as he started to guess who it might be.

"Just stay here."

"Wait, are we in the east corridor?"

"Stop talking." The officer inched toward the door, drawing his gun. Ichigo didn't know what he saw but the man reached and reached to his lapel and whispered into the radio. "I see him. I'm making my move."

"No—" It was too late. The man cracked the door, but the instant the knob turned it flew back in from a forceful kick and hit him in the face. Ichigo stood up in alarm. The man was unconscious. The door pushed the rest of the way in.

"Ichigo."

"Fuck, Grimmjow, what are you doing? Please tell me you're not on Hogyoku again."

"I'm not."

"Then you're having a break down." Grimmjow shook his head and bent over the figure, taking his gun and his radio.

"I'm afraid I'm completely sane, Ichigo." He stood again.

"Then what are you doing?"

"I'm leaving. And I'm taking you with me."

Ichigo watched him hold out his hand.

"I don't understand."

"There's too much to explain, kid, just trust me."

They watched each other for a long moment, chaotic lights flashing in the hall beyond and the buzz of alarms were lost in the silence that burned between them.

"Okay." Ichigo took his hand and they were moving. Grimmjow hauled him down corridors, changing directions whenever they heard footsteps or voices. Using the man's radio he tracked the movements of security.

Ichigo tried to figure out what was going on, what had set Grimmjow off, but all was wiped from his mind when he realized where they were headed.

"No way." Grimmjow had pulled him against the wall just before the plate glass window that overlooked the parking lot below.

"We can make it." Grimmjow checked his clip. "I'll shoot the glass first."

"We're two stories up. We'll break our legs!"

"Maybe."

"Hell, Grimmjow! What kind of plan is that?"

"It's a desperate one. But we just need to get to a car."

"What about the gates?"

"We ram them."

"What's so bad we have to run?"

Blue eyes met him. "Turns out I'm not the only one who's father worked on Hogyoku."

"Wh-what."

"You have it too, Ichigo. You have the genetic compatibility for Hogyoku. Interpol never told us, and they won't let you go. Draw your own conclusions."

"...no…"

"Believe it, now let's go!" His hand tightened over Ichigo, he pulled them from their cover, gun raised to shoot out he glass.

They didn't make it.

The shot sounded just behind them. Neither had seen Kenpachi crouched on the stairs, as if he guessed Grimmjow's exit strategy. Grimmjow dropped with a scream and Ichigo fell with him.

"Fuck, you shot him!" But he wasn't seeing blood. Grimmjow was gagging on pain and trying to breathe.

"Rubber bullet." Zaraki dropped the weapon. "He'll live." The impact looked to have hit him square in the back of his rib cage. It had taken his breath and maybe broken some bones. Still, Grimmjow dragged himself back to hands and knees.

"Stay down, kid," Zaraki warned.

"Fuck you," Grimmjow whispered, still half stunned. Ichigo was between them, the gun just out of reach.

"Don't." Kenpachi kicked it away. "You don't understand what's going on."

"Then explain it."

"Don't bother." Grimmjow used Ichigo to help himself sit back on his knees. "They're all liars."

"Who isn't in this world?" Zaraki pulled out a pair of cuffs. "Now we can talk about this when we've all had a chance to calm down."

He made to grab Grimmjow but the ex-child soldier manoeuvered away using Ichigo to shove himself up to his feet. He was still struggling to breathe, however, and Kenpachi caught him with one long arm and his hands were cuffed at his back before he could do anything.

"Don't hurt him," Ichigo pleaded.

Grimmjow was wincing but Zaraki released him and let Ichigo take a supportive grip around him.

"Relax. Like I said, we all just need to talk."

Ichigo read Kenpachi's face, seeing sincerity, but a venomous voice floated up from the stairs at their backs.

"Fuck Zaraki. You've messed up my plans."

Kenpachi turned in start, just now noticing his sharp-faced counterpart. "Ichimaru, what are you talking about?"

"Dammit." Grimmjow swore, dark revelation settling on him as he saw the snake grin on the pale man's face. "You set me up."

"And how easy it was." The American smiled. "I just gave you a little push, and you created the chaos I required."

Kenpachi had his gun on him in a second. "What the Fuck is going on?"

Grimmjow stepped forward. "Shoot him. Please."

"What's going on?" Zaraki demanded again.

Grimmjow turned to Ichimaru. "You work for my father, don't you?"

Gin smiled.

Zaraki fired.

"Get down!" Kenpachi warned the teens but Ichimaru backed off, running down the stairs. "Shit where'd he go?"

But both boys had their eyes fixed on the agent, red dots all over his back. Grimmjow turned, tracing the line back through the plate glass window.

"ZARAKI!"

Glass shattered into a million crystal shards. So many bullets tore through the glass that a silver powder floated in the air around them. Ichigo's face was pressed hard in the carpet, the onslaught of gun fire muted by the body on top of him. When it let up, he was yanked up and shoved down the corridor. He staggered back to his feet and turned in time to see Kenpachi dragging Grimmjow with him.

"RUN!"

They did. Gun fire erupted in other hallways, the attack was spreading.

"Dammit!" Zaraki threw a door open and shoved the boys inside, locking it behind them. It was a lounge, he scanned for a place to hide them.

"There." It was the best they could do: a supply closet with cans of coffee and napkins stacked on the shelves. It was a tight squeeze for all three but there was a chance they could go unnoticed in here.

"What's going on?" Ichigo asked. The light bulb showed the blood all down Grimmjow's face where he's been cut by glass or skimmed by a bullet. Ichigo felt blood on his palms but Kenpachi's breath was ragged, and both teens stared at the gush of crimson coming from his chest.

"Shit," Grimmjow swore.

"I'll be fine. Give me a napkin, Ichigo." The teen obliged, handing him the whole package and Kenpachi began applying them to the wound.

"Is it Aizen?" Ichigo asked, so much had just happened he was still piecing it together.

"It's my fault." Grimmjow took a breath. "I should have known what Gin was doing."

"You had alot on your plate kid," Kenpachi consoled.

"It was stupid." Grimmjow argued back. "He approached me, said all that shit about you guys never releasing me, lead me to those files on Ichigo."

"So it was lies?" Ichigo asked hopefully.

"No." Grimmjow shook his head. "No I saw the files, they were real. Your dad was one of the three developers of Hogyoku. He must have tested it on himself just like Aizen. So you and your family are just as compatible for the drug as I am."

"It can't be, my dad would never do that."

"He doesn't remember," Zaraki supplied. "Interpol helped him forget the day he turned down their offer to work on the project. Poor bastard."

"No..."

"Yes," the agent continued. "Unfortunately Aizen found out about his children. That's why he let Grimmjow stay in Karakura."

"Manipulating bastard," Grimmjow swore.

"More than you know, kid. I'm sure he manufactured everything that happened to you since the day he let you escape, just so he could keep an eye on Ichigo."

"Until he was ready to take him."

"I guess. Or maybe he was just waiting to use you to get inside our headquarters. Either way, this is going down right now, and he is after the both of you."

Ichigo shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did Rukia lie?"

"The plan was, if we could wrap this shit with Aizen up you could go back to your normal life without even knowing. Urahara wanted it that way, your dad was his friend after all."

"This is insane."

"It is," Zaraki agreed.

"Where are the keys to these cuffs?" Grimmjow seemed to be wrestling with himself and a moment later he brought his hands beneath his feet and back up in front of him but they were still very much secured to one another.

"Probably out there in that glass," Kenpachi responded.

"Shit."

"Take my gun." He passed it to Grimmjow. "You probably have better aim than me at this point."

"Thanks." Grimmjow gripped it tight with cuffed writs and one hand still bandaged.

"Sorry about that, by the way." Fading eyes fell to the plastic braces around Grimmjow's fingers. "Shouldn't have let it go that far..."

"Shut up and save your strength. Ichigo, put pressure on his wound and stay silent." Grimmjow rose.

"No! Grimmjow you can't go out there."

"I have to or we're just sitting ducks."

"Then I'll go with you."

"And Kenpachi dies."

"Fuck you!" Grimmjow had intentionally held him hostage with the dying agent.

"Yeah well, fuck you an' all Ichigo, but I going to go try to save our asses."

He opened the door and slammed it shut again before Ichigo could retort. He pushed hard into the wound on Zaraki's chest and prayed some miracle would save them.

Grimmjow followed the destruction down the corridor to the medical ward. When he came in, he saw Renji's bed empty, shelves raided, tables overturned. Someone had been here looking for research.

"Stop." He froze when he heard the door shut behind him, but then a pain filled gasp and the clatter of a gun hitting tile told him he was safe to move.

"Shit." He ran to Renji when he saw him fall. He was still recovering from a very serious wound.

"Grimmjow? Where are the others?"

"I have no idea. What about Urahara?"

"He left this morning for a meeting. He's not here. Is it Aizen? Is that who you think they're after?"

"Maybe, but Kisuke would just be a bonus. He's here for me and Ichigo."

"Shit."

"Stay here." Grimmjow passed him back his gun and helped him prop himself in the corner behind the door. "Oh, and Gin Ichimaru works for Aizen."

"Fuck."

"Yeah. Good luck."

"Same to you."

Grimmjow moved on. He saw bodies, feared he would see Rukia among them but he never did.

He wasn't sure what he would face when he caught up to the attackers. Would it be his siblings? Just one or two of them could do this, maybe Stark and Halibel? Or would their father be waiting for him at the end of the path.

It was neither. Ichimaru stepped out before him at the end of the hall. Grimmjow didn't hesitate before opening fire but was also forced under cover by return shots.

"Thought this version of you was squeamish about killing," Gin taunted.

Grimmjow didn't answer. He had four shots left, they had to count.

"Did you expect your brothers?"

Still he didn't rise to the bait.

"You don't know who I am, do you?"

"A bastard." He rolled out and took a shot. He missed.

"Nice try. No, I'm a gen one, been on a steady dose of Hogyoku for twenty five years."

"You'd be dead."

"Nah, we kept it low, a slow build in the system. I think by now, I might be as strong as your siblings."

Shit. If that was true, he was screwed.

"How do you think you'd do now, Grimmjow, without the drug and with that bad ticker of yours?"

"So father wants me dead?"

"I didn't say that. He'll still have his uses for you."

Then that meant he needed him alive. Grimmjow stood and opened fire. Gin had been behind a corner but he moved faster than Grimmjow and ended it with a single shot.

"Argh!" Grimmjow collapsed when the bullet went through his leg.

"That doesn't mean I can't shoot you, idiot."

He kicked the gun out of Grimmjow's hand and hauled him up. Despite the pain, Grimmjow wasn't done. He lurched forward and caught the other in a headbutt, then threw his cuffed hands around Gin's neck to strangle him. They fell again in a tangle of fighting limbs. Grimmjow twisted to get leverage but a fist slammed into the wound through his thigh and he lost his grip.

"Don't feel too bad." Gin got a hand on his neck and dragged him up again. "You did better than I thought. Now then, remember this room?" They were on the basement level and Grimmjow struggled harder when he saw the heavy iron door.

"Good memories, no?" Gin shoved through the door and threw him in the chair where Kenpachi and Mayuri had tortured him. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to play." He pulled a few straps into place securing Grimmjow to the spot, his hands already taken care of.

"Now stay there while I go fetch your boyfriend."

The door clanked shut, Grimmjow jerked against the restrains.

"ICHIGO!"

Thanks for the reviews! Congrats to all who called my "plot twist." I hope the predictability doesn't bother you. And yes, another cliffhanger, I do love them, ;) Until next time!

Riza.