Before anyone says anything, I chose certain name spellings because they either seemed relatively correct or I just liked the way they looked.

Unexpected Baggage- 25

"So, seriously. We need a plan. Nothing we've come up with so far has been working," Grimmjow said from behind the wheel.

"I'm on it." Ichigo had a phone in his hand and was dialing. "Yes," he said after a moment. "I'd like to speak to him." He frowned for a moment. "Well, this is Ichigo Kurosaki and I'm pretty sure he'll make the time. Yeah, that's what I thought."

Grimmjow had no idea who he was talking to but he started to have a bad feeling about where this was going. "Who are you calling?"

Ichigo didn't answer him and merely held up a hand signaling him to wait. "Thank you for taking the time to speak to me Kariya-san."

Grimmjow hit the breaks with a squeal and barely had enough control to pull over to the side of the road. "What the fuck are you doing?" he hissed as he reached for the phone. Ichigo easily dodged and pulled back before opening the door and slipping out of the car.

"I believe we can do each other a favor. Yes. No, he isn't. I want to make sure he's not in control anymore. Yes, exactly. I believe I can help you do that."

Grimmjow seethed from the driver sear, not trusting himself to get out right now. They'd agreed that they weren't going to go anywhere near Kariya and here they were, calling him up and offering to do him a favor. But when Grimmjow heard Ichigo offer to meet him, he slammed the door open and got out. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded as Ichigo hung up the phone.

"Trying to find a way out of this mess."

"By handing yourself over to somebody else that wants to fuck you over? How the hell is that supposed to fix anything? He's just as dangerous. More so because he's more subtle." Aizen had a talent for subtlety but Kariya was a master.

"Which is why I'm going to give him enough to keep Aizen busy while we get away. Maybe out of the country or something. I don't really care, just as long as we can get the hell out while he's distracted." Ichigo clenched his fingers on the phone.

"Well you could have given me some warning," Grimmjow muttered as he tried to let his seething anger fade away.

Ichigo snorted. "You would have said no."

"Damn right. But once you go to Kariya's place, what makes you think he'll let you walk out again?"

"Because we're meeting him at the outdoor mall that's on the edge of the next city. He won't do anything stupid in a public place. He's too refined for that."

"It's still dangerous," Grimmjow said as he got back behind the wheel.

"Yeah." Ichigo joined him and had the grace to look a little abashed. "I know. But no less than what's been going on lately. I don't know how the hell Aizen found us that last time but I'm not waiting for him to catch up again."

Grimmjow didn't really have anything to say to that as he put the car in gear. "So where are we going exactly?"

"Take a left up here." Ichigo gave him a few directions and then got quiet as they rode on in silence for most of the ride.

"So what did you offer him?" Grimmjow's curiosity and paranoia were giving him some pretty ridiculous answers.

"I know enough about Aizen's organization and methods to give Kariya the upper hand. If he uses it right, he could edge him out. Maybe not put him out of business entirely but it's something."

"I thought you didn't have a lot of access while you were there."

"I didn't really but I sat in on a lot of planning sessions and meetings." Ichigo frowned and flexed his fingers where they sat in his lap. "I think he was trying to train me or something."

"That seems kind of stupid. I mean, no offense or anything, but you never led to believe you were actually going to fall in line or anything did you? Why would he do that?"

"Because it doesn't occur to him that I would ever go against him. He doesn't think that anyone would."

"True enough."

It didn't take them long to get where they were going. The mall was one of those carefully manicured places for people with more money than sense, the ground landscaped within an inch of it's life. Grimmjow hated places like this. He always felt so uncomfortable, like he didn't belong. And the feeling wasn't any different now as he got out of the car. "So where exactly are we going now? This is a pretty big place."

"A coffee shop in the central plaza. There's always crowds there." Ichigo started to show the first signs of nervousness as he scanned the parking areas that threaded through the maze of stores and shops. "We were closer than he was when I called so he shouldn't be here yet."

Grimmjow followed him through the crowds of people, trying to remember where they parked and mapped escape routes as they went. The coffee shop had several outdoor tables and they sat down and ordered just to have something to do while they waited. Grimmjow had only seen Kariya in person twice and that was from a distance. The man didn't do much business with Aizen and kept to his own territory most of the time. But he was easy to spot as he came down the sidewalk flanked by two other people. One was a slim man with dark hair that framed his face and the other was large and intimidating looking. The effect was ruined a little by the bulky headphones that hung around his neck. Ichigo stiffened when he saw them and tried his best not to show it.

"Good afternoon, Kurosaki-kun. I must say, I was surprised to receive your call." Kariya's voice was slick and cultured as he came up to the table.

"Please have a seat," Ichigo said evenly. He'd obviously been nervous before but it was hidden pretty well now. "Would you like anything?"

Kariya slid gracefully into a seat across from them and signaled a waitress. "If you don't mind," he said as he ordered and shooed her dismissively away. "I dislike doing business in such places but I don't suppose I should be choosy now. What made you decide to contact me?"

"Does it matter?"

"Not really but learning the motivations of others is a hobby of mine. He is your uncle after all. Turning on family is a nasty business."

"He's not family," Ichigo replied, his voice tight. "And you're well aware that there's no love lost between us at least on my part."

"Indeed. I believe he wanted to be closer to you after your mother died. That was such a distressing time in his life. And yours I imagine."

Grimmjow watched Ichigo's eyes flare but he didn't rise to the obvious jab that was intended to unsettle him. Grimmjow was quietly impressed with the redhead's control even as he wanted to smack him for setting this up in the first place.

"I'm not concerned with his distress. I want him to leave me alone. Now do you want what I have to give you or not?" Control or not, Ichigo was still pissed and on edge.

"And what would I owe you in return for what you have so generously offered?" Kariya accepted a cup from the waitress when she returned and took a moment to savor the scent before sipping.

"I just want to be left alone. To live my life without being influenced by someone else." Ichigo had yet to touch his own coffee. Grimmjow remained silent during all of this, too busy keeping an eye on Kariya's men. But neither of them seemed particularly interested in what was going on at the table.

"To my knowledge, I have made no move to bother you in our brief acquaintance."

Now Ichigo was openly annoyed but he merely gave Kariya a flat look. "No, you haven't. But that's not what I'm talking about and you know it. Aizen is an irritant to you and I'm sure you'd be happy to put him at a disadvantage."

"What makes you think that?" Kariya asked smoothly, not breaking stride at all.

"You think you're better than him. That he's an upstart with ambitions beyond his station and means. And it irritates you that he's got the connections to keep what he has even as he expands his holdings and territory. What was it you said the last time I saw you?" Ichigo rubbed his chin thoughtfully before looking Kariya in the eye. "Right, I remember. 'New Money is so pretentious.' You should check to make sure you're actually in your car before making snide observations. But then I guess you probably don't really care what he thinks."

"Hmmm. You're quite the astute adversary I see. And a quick study." Kariya's gaze shifted to look beyond Ichigo's shoulder. "He's a credit to your tutelage, Aizen-san."

Grimmjow whirled in his seat to see Aizen calmly walking towards them in a slick, expensive looking suit. Stark and Hallibel were at his side. Grimmjow would have grabbed Ichigo and bolted but he saw four more of Aizen's people spread out through the crowd. There was nowhere to go. He'd been so busy keeping an eye on Kariya that he hadn't noticed anything else. Aizen's expression was mild and hard to read as he came to a stop beside Ichigo's chair. He reached out and smoothed a hand over the redhead's hair affectionately.

"Yes, he's more than I could have hoped for, if a little disappointing in some areas." He tightened his grip momentarily before letting his hand drop to pat Ichigo's shoulder. It was an absent minded gesture, like he was petting a favorite dog. Ichigo was frozen in his seat, his eyes wide and a little unfocused as his head bowed low, almost as if he were trying to shrink away from him. It was a far cry from the outraged fury he'd shown earlier.

Grimmjow's lip curled but he was kept from rising by a hand that came to rest on his own shoulder. Starrk stood next to him looking mildly bored. He spared Grimmjow a glance and shook his head slightly. "Don't," he murmured. Grimmjow couldn't help but try anyway and ended up hissing in pain as the other man expertly hit a pressure point that had his left arm going slightly numb.

So far, Aizen hadn't bothered looking in his direction at all yet. His focus was the redhead that had started to tremble. Ichigo looked at Grimmjow then, his gaze a little panicked. It took everything Grimmjow had not to reach out and take him protectively in his arms. But there was no way he could do anything without getting him hurt. After a moment, Ichigo seemed to shake himself and his expression hardened a little as he turned to Kariya.

"I thought you didn't do business with him." It was clear that the other man had called Aizen and it was distressing to think how close he had to have been to get here this fast.

"Times change and if you don't change with them, you will be buried. As it turns out, Aizen-san made me a rather generous offer and I was hard pressed to refuse it. I find that compromise is so much better than adversity." Kariya continued to calmly drink his coffee as if they were discussing the weather.

Ichigo took a moment to process that as he gathered up the tattered remains of his confidence before he spoke to Aizen. But even then, he didn't quite look at him directly. Like he knew he would buckle as soon as he laid eyes on him. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"So willful," Aizen said quietly. "My dear boy. I believe we've been over this before. It's in everyone's best interest for you to do as you're told." He sat when Hallibel brought a chair over for him.

"You can't touch them. Even I don't know where they are." His family presumably. Ichigo had said they'd gone away for their own protection. The redhead's gaze flicked to a pair of little girls who skipped by chattering happily, each holding the hand of a young woman who gazed down at them with obvious affection. Aizen saw this and smiled. It was a cold, empty expression.

"It wounds me to be separated from my lovely nieces for so long but I suppose it can't be helped. I only ever wanted to offer my support when your mother died."

A muscle in Ichigo's jaw ticked as he heard mention of Masaki's death for the second time in less than an hour.

"But they're strong young women now and have grown up well despite unfortunate past events." Aizen glanced at the pair of girls again. "I wonder how those two would cope with that kind of loss." It was said idly, but the cold threat beneath was clear.

Ichigo finally turned to Aizen, a look of horror twisting his features. "You wouldn't," he whispered.

"It wouldn't be here of course. Accidents happen everyday and the world is such a dangerous place." Aizen watched Ichigo patiently. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet and almost pitying. "How many will it take to finally get my point across?"

Ichigo was watching him carefully as if trying to find a shred of humanity in him. Grimmjow could have told him he'd never find one. The sudden pain in the redhead's eyes was hard to look at. Ichigo was crumbling slowly under Aizen's gaze like he couldn't take the pressure or the weight of it anymore. "What do you want from me?" His voice was thick and a little broken.

Aizen cupped his chin. It might have been a touching gesture if his fingers weren't dimpling Ichigo's skin with the force of his grip. "I will not let go of what's mine. Remember that."

Ichigo made a small sound in his throat as he was drawn to his feet. Aizen put his arm around his shoulders and led him to the car that had pulled up. Grimmjow just sat there dumbly. He imagined himself leaping to his feet and disarming Starrk before shooting that fucker Aizen right between his lying eyes. But all he did was get stiffly to his feet as Starrk took his arm. Aizen hadn't looked at him once or even acknowledged his presence but Grimmjow knew he hadn't been forgotten. A van pulled up behind Aizen's car as it pulled away and he was ushered into the back. The rest of the team got in with him and he found himself surrounded by familiar if not friendly faces.

Mila Rose was behind the wheel, and she gave Grimmjow a contemptuous glance as she put the vehicle in gear and pulled away. Starrk had gotten in the passenger seat. Aaroniero leaned forward and leered over Grimmjow's shoulder.

"Welcome back, Blue. It's been a while." He was a lean, rather vicious man who had an affection for body sculpting and plastic surgery. His current face was good looking enough, with black hair and handsome features. But it couldn't hide the greed on the inside or the rampant insanity that made him unpredictable. Grimmjow said nothing as he sat regretting his lack of action earlier.

"I'd leave him alone unless you want Aizen-sama coming down on you too." Yammi sat in the back and it was a wonder that the van didn't rock back on it's rear tires due to his bulk. His voice was a tired sneer.

"What? Just because you blew it and let the Strawberry kick you around doesn't mean I'm going to let that shit happen to me. I told you to let me go and get them."

"Would you two shut up?" Lolli lounged on the bench seat just in front of Yammi.

"Yeah." Where there was Lolli, there was Menoli. She was slumped next to her partner. "It's going to be a long freaking drive and we don't want to spend it listening to the two of you bitch." If they were here, then Ulquiorra was as well. But he was probably in Aizen's car. The little ass kisser was never far away from him.

"Speaking of bitch," Aaroniero muttered as he sat back.

Grimmjow refused to say anything. He was too busy gauging his chances against them. The girls wouldn't be much of a problem and he could stomp on Aaroniero easily enough. If he could outrun Yammi, that wouldn't be an issue either. But Starrk would get him before he got three feet. Even though it looked like he was falling asleep up front, he was a crack shot and the fastest man Grimmjow had ever seen.

He sighed and was just glad that they hadn't decided to knock him out for the trip. They hadn't even really bothered to restrain him, like they didn't think he was much of a threat. He stared down at his hands and wondered if they weren't right. He'd just sat there silent while Aizen had waltzed in and taken control again. Like he owned them both. Grimmjow shut his eyes tight and did his best not to let it overwhelm him. It was just another reason for Ilfort to say 'I told you so.'

. . . . . . .

Aizen's mansion was in the center of a huge plot of land, the grounds even more strictly manicured than the mall they'd just been to. And once inside the gates, there was no real way to get out. Grimmjow watched the lawns and gardens passing by numbly, like he was in another world altogether. He'd never expected to come back here after he left that last time and his gut tightened as they pulled up to the rear entrance of the house. He was escorted inside and taken to a familiar set of rooms where he was all but shoved inside.

And then he was suddenly tackled to the floor. The numbness quickly faded and he fought them, his breath shrieking in his throat. Until someone got a tight hold on his dick and he was forced to be still of risk having it ripped off.

"Hold still, you lousy fucker." Lolli hissed in his ear. "Or you'll be singing in different key." She always was the more malicious of the pair and both of them had reason for a little payback.

"Would you shut up and do it? We don't have all day." Menoli threaded her fingers through Grimmjow's hair and yanked his head back. The headache that he'd managed to get rid of was slowly coming back in force.

"What the fuck. . ." Grimmjow's breath caught as his groin was squeezed again. He was pinned to the floor while he felt the chill kiss of a blade against his hip. He held himself almost painfully still as they started cutting his clothes off of him. Grimmjow swore under his breath and vowed he'd tear them both apart once Ichigo was safe. After a few dicey minutes, they finally stepped back and left him laying all but naked in a pile of sliced fabric.

"You've got fifteen minutes to make yourself presentable or we take you to see him as you are," Menoli said as she sheathed her knife. Lolli played with hers for a little bit before finally putting it away.

Aaroniero gave him a pitying look from where he'd been watching in the doorway. "You know, if you weren't such a stubborn bastard, we wouldn't have to do shit like that." He nodded to the closet. "Make it easy on yourself and do what you're told for once." He leaned down once the girls had sauntered off. "Those two wanted to do this back at the mall but Starrk wouldn't let them. Consider yourself lucky." And with that, he was gone and shutting the door behind him.

Grimmjow picked himself up and examined the small cuts where they hadn't been quite so careful. Fortunately, they were shallow and didn't worry him much and he headed into the bathroom to staunch the minor bleeding. They'd dumped him in the same rooms he'd lived in when he worked here and they hadn't changed at all. Old memories welled up and threatened to overwhelm him but he shoved them back down. As much as he hated to do what they wanted, he knew they'd drag him out naked if he didn't get dressed now. Grimmjow sneered when he saw the contents of his closet.

He hadn't put on the white in a long time and the idea of doing it now didn't thrill him all that much. White hakama and black obi, short white jacket with black trim and black shoes. It had been Aizen's idea to make uniforms for all of them, each tailored to the personality of the wearer. They were all a strange mix of traditional and modern style. He wished for the first time that the jacket actually covered him more. Grimmjow had always been proud of his body but he was feeling a little bit vulnerable at the moment.

When the door opened a few minutes later, he nearly slammed it shut again but he wasn't going to make a scene until he figured out where Ichigo was. That was his priority now. He didn't care about himself, the redhead was all that mattered. So he followed Starrk down the hallway without comment as he was led to Aizen's office. Everything was oversized and designed to intimidate, the rich opulence shiny by somehow shallow at the same time. The chair behind the desk looked like some huge kind of throne and it took up half the width of the enormous room.

Grimmjow's attention was immediately drawn to Ichigo who sat in smaller chair next to the desk. He was dressed in loose white pants, a sleeveless white tunic and white slip-on shoes. He wore elbow length black gloves on his hands and they were clasped demurely in his lap. His expression was downcast, his eyes a little glazed looking. He was like a whole other person here. Grimmjow didn't see any of the fire that attracted him in the first place. Now all he saw was fear and a bone deep weariness that seemed to weigh him down. Aizen stood at Ichigo's side with a hand resting on his shoulder.

The redhead kept flicking his eyes to the center of the room where another man knelt quietly, his head bowed. There was a sheet of plastic laid out beneath him and that was an extremely bad sign. Starrk led Grimmjow across the room and brought him to a stop at the other end of the desk. Out of the center of the room but far enough away from Ichigo that he couldn't touch him.

"Ah, there you are Grimmjow," Aizen said smoothly. "It's good to see that you're doing well. Did you enjoy your vacation?"

Vacation? Is that what that asshole considered it? Time off from a job? Grimmjow had a dozen nasty things that were fighting to get out of his mouth but he clenched his jaw to keep from saying any of them. If Aizen noticed, he didn't mention it as he continued to smile that quiet smile that somehow sent shivers down Grimmjow's spine.

"I must thank you for taking such good care of my nephew." Aizen's hand tightened on Ichigo's shoulder just a little and the look on his face said a lot more than his words. He glanced to the center of the room where the blonde man knelt. Now that Grimmjow was looking at him up close, he recognized him as the one he'd beaten the crap out of that first night. The night he'd inadvertently rescued Ichigo. Aizen chuckled as he noticed Grimmjow's reaction. "I see that you remember him. You see, there are a lot of people who have some rather unhealthy intentions when it comes to Ichigo. This one was going to deliver him to his employer. I believe Nnoitra had intended to hold him for ransom. Or perhaps sell him to one of my many enemies."

So that's what Nnoitra had been doing when he called. Trying to get close to him. And he'd probably been responsible for that sloppy snatch and grab on the morning they'd gone jogging. That made more sense.

Aizen stroked Ichigo's hair absently, making the redhead flinch. "But Tesla here hasn't been very forthcoming with details. I suppose it doesn't matter really."

It happened in a blink, a single moment that was almost easily missed except for the shock of it. Aizen pulled out a small pistol and shot Tesla in the head easily, showing no more emotion than if he'd been turning on the coffee pot in the morning. The gunshot barked in the large room, making Grimmjow and Ichigo jump. The blonde fell back in a limp heap as blood started to trickle from his nose and ears. It was a small caliber bullet that had just enough force to enter and then it rattled around inside.

Ichigo made a small noise in his throat like he was going to be sick but he managed to hold it back. Grimmjow was cold. It's not like he'd never seen a dead body before. But there was a casual sense of indifference to this that made him extremely uncomfortable. Like Aizen cared absolutely nothing beyond what the incident might have done to his carpet. And he might not. There was something different about him but Grimmjow couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Right now, Aizen had a faraway look in his eyes that was mildly disturbing. He continued to stroke Ichigo's hair as he looked down at the gun and frowned slightly. Grimmjow saw Starrk shift slightly beside him and wasn't exactly sure what that meant. But the moment passed as Aizen set the gun down on the desk and left it forgotten.

"Now, I'm sure you're wondering why you're not the one lying dead on the floor right now," Aizen said pleasantly, turning his attention back to Grimmjow.

Taking a breath and beating his fear back ruthlessly, Grimmjow lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. "The thought had occurred to me." It seemed mildly safer now that the gun was out of Aizen's hand but that was no guarantee of anything.

"Well, you did save my nephew so that has earned you quite a bit. That dilapidated garage where you were staying wasn't the best environment but at least he was safe enough with you while he was there." If Aizen knew that they'd slept together, he didn't let it show. Grimmjow had a sudden thought that he wouldn't look kindly on that and started to worry again as Aizen continued.

"It's a shame about Ilfort really. When my men came to your hotel room yesterday, it was in a misguided attempt to curry favor with me. Yammi has been sufficiently chastised for the incident and it won't happen again. I'm just glad my officers found you so quickly after and determined that you were both relatively unharmed."

Grimmjow knew there was something up with those cops. They had more than enough to bring them in. But apparently, they'd wanted to leave that honor to their boss. Aizen didn't seem to know that Ilfort had survived and Grimmjow was in no hurry to tell him otherwise.

Aizen looked up for a moment like he was trying to remember something. "I suppose I could have had them pick you up then but they said you were a little jumpy at the time. It's all worked out for the best."

Aizen sounded like he was starting to ramble which was extremely odd. He usually chose his words extremely carefully and used them as effectively as any weapon.

Ichigo sat quietly in the chair, like a small animal that was trying not to draw the attention of a much larger predator. And he wouldn't meet Grimmjow's eyes. The only movements he made were slight twitching tremors as Aizen continued to touch him. It was the same fond way that one might touch a pet and there was nothing sexual about it. But it still made Grimmjow clench his teeth and fight not to do something stupid.

"So now what?" he asked and was almost afraid of the answer. No matter what reason Aizen had for keeping Ichigo in his possession, Grimmjow knew that he himself was expendable.

"You were always one of my best even if you lacked conviction in certain areas. And while veiled threats are effective enough, sometimes visual examples are necessary."

Grimmjow didn't like the sound of that especially when he heard the click of Starrk's gun cocking behind him. "Hold still," the other man murmured. There was another barking shot and pain suddenly lancing down Grimmjow's right thigh. The shock of it made his legs buckle and he fell to the floor.

"NO!" Ichigo spoke and showed life for the first time as he suddenly shot to his feet. But Aizen fisted his hand in his hair and yanked his head back hard.

"Foolish boy," he hissed in his ear. "You will behave and be the perfect son that I always wanted. His welfare depends on it."

"Fine!" Ichigo gasped. "Just don't. . .don't." He grasped Aizen's hand where it was still tugging his hair. "Just don't hurt him." He nearly wailed it, the desperation tight in his voice.

"That's better." Aizen stroked Ichigo's cheek gently with his other hand as he released his hair and pulled him close in a sad parody of fatherly affection.

"Don't. . ." Grimmjow lay on the ground holding a hand to the wound on his leg. "Not for me. Don't give in for me." He pleaded with Ichigo, and met the redhead's frightened eyes. Ichigo just shook his head and looked away as he bit his lip. The strained moment continued until Aizen's look grew board. He led Ichigo out of the room and out of sight and Grimmjow let out a frustrated howl before letting himself fall back on the floor. He lay panting, his eyes closed.

"I'm sorry," Stark murmured. And strangely, he actually sounded sorry. Grimmjow looked up at him with eyes narrowed by pain and mild suspicion. Starrk met them with a level gaze. "Things are a mess, Sexta."

The use of his former rank hit Grimmjow like a blow. It made his return final and somehow irreversible. But he was a little puzzled at Starrk's apology. The other man had always been laid back and aloof mostly but he seemed on edge right now as knelt down and pulled out a handkerchief to press against the wound on Grimmjow's leg. He looked like he wanted to say more but he just shook his head. When Starrk stayed quiet, Grimmjow closed his eyes again and felt lower than he had in a long time.

. . . . . . .

A/N: Ichigo's outfit at the end of the chapter was from the double page spread in chapter 204 (which, ironically enough, is the chapter where Ichigo meets Grimmjow for the first time in the manga.) I've always loved that look.