Chapter Four

When Grimmjow told his parents about his new found love, they couldn't be happier. The young teal-haired prince had been in high spirits ever since he got back from his trip, and save for his usual feral attitude towards them and the servants, he was smiling all night. So they gave him their regards as he set out to go see Ulquiorra, like he promised.

"Damn!" He swerved his horse just in time to avoid the passerby on the streets. With a fierce glare he looked down at the robed man and spat, "watch where you walk jackass! I coulda killed you jus now." The large man looked at Grimmjow, although his face was covered by the thick material of his hood. He mumbled an apology and scattered onto the grass.

Grimmjow scowled before pulling the reigns and riding once more. If he wasn't going to see Ulquiorra at that moment he would have beaten that idiot senseless. He was already ticked off at the amount of beggars that approached him when he passed through the common-folk villages. His drive through it all was of course his lovely Snow Prince, waiting for him at King Aizen's castle. A small smile came over Grimmjow's face at the thought of Ulquiorra, his cute prince. He couldn't wait to make Ulquiorra his.

He set his horse by the wall and jumped over like the last time. However he wasn't met with the familiar site of Ulquiorra cleaning. Which now that he thought about it, that was strange on it's own. Should a prince be cleaning? Grimmjow never cleaned anything. He left that to the maids and everybody else there to serve him at his family's castle. Grimmjow looked around the garden; in the well, behind the bushes and even went up the stairs.

When he pulled back the red curtains that once hid Ulquiorra from his view, he sighed at seeing nothing. It really hurt. Didn't Ulquiorra say he would be waiting for him? Calm down! He mentally scolded himself. Ulquiorra lives in a castle- not a garden. He's probably inside! Grimmjow chuckled at that. He turned around and immediately jumped back with a hiss.

"Who the fuck are you!" he asked after composing himself. His heart beat a mile a minute.

A man with brown hair and a calm, but creepy smile stared back at him. He stood there all noble like and it made Grimmjow wonder if he'd been there for a while. The man seemed to be amused at Grimmjow's actions. For, while he wasn't saying anything, that smirk just grew wider and wider. "You must be Prince JeagerJaques, I presume?" He finally said.

"What's it ta you?"

"My my... you seem to be quite feisty." Another bemused chuckle. "However much I find this truly charming, it is I, who shall be asking the questions Grimmjow."

What the fuck? How did he know my name? Grimmjow was beginning to get angrier and angrier. Who was this strange man who talked in long sentences with words that didn't make much sense to the prince? But actually he didn't care, he just wanted to see Ulquiorra. "Look whatever, where is Ulquiorra?"

"Who?"

"Prince Ulquiorra...?" There was no response save for a dead, blank stare. "He's this tall, black hair, green eyes, you know... the Prince?"

"Ah... you mean Ulqi then." Grimmjow felt like punching this man's lights out but he held back, just for his emerald eyed prince. The man smiled and said, "I must inform you, Grimmjow, that Ulquiorra has died."

"Wh-what?" Blue eyes widened, and eyebrows furrowed. "But I just saw him yesterday!"

"I'm afraid the little darling had run away to be with you, when he fell and drowned in a nearby river."

Grimmjow could have died himself. This wasn't happening was it? Clearly someone was playing a joke on him. Ulquiorra could not be dead. This was supposed to be a fairytale, and Grimmjow would save his prince and take him home. He half believed it, and that's when his cheerful demeanor left him. What would he do now? Hold on. Everything changed if this man wasn't telling the truth. And judging by that smile one his face, he couldn't be altogether honest. "You're lying." That statement was dangerous on it's own.

The man rose one perfect brow. "Oh? You don't believe me, and continue to question what I say..." he started laughing. "Ahh Grimmjow, would you not believe your King? I am telling the truth; Ulquiorra is dead."

He was so angry, so confused that he turned and left. Those words played in his mind as he did so. Ulquiorra is dead.

Shit. FUCK! Grimmjow kicked the stone wall, paying no mind to how his foot throbbed once after. Beside him, Pantera whinnied while he paced and cursed loudly. Grimmjow eased himself up on the horse, brows knitted down into permanent fury. He was trying to hide the self turmoil that was going through his head at that moment. If Ulquiorra was dead, then Grimmjow might as well be too. He didn't know why he felt this horrible when he had only known the other for a day. But maybe... he was supposed to be someone special.

He returned home, broken hearted. It was plain to see to anyone and everyone in the castle. The servants had been talking about it ever since he got back. They didn't quite understand it! After all just yesterday Grimmjow had ecstatic- why he had even kissed the butler! (on the cheek of course, in which Ukitake had blushed and spluttered profoundly before the blue haired prince ran off shouting.)

So, sometime after his arrival, his two kind and elderly parents came to his room. "Grimmjow, son?" his father called from beyond the closed door.

"Go away!"

His mother flinched at the harsh tone, and frowned. His father's forehead creased with worry lines that had developed even more over the years. "Erm... how did it turn out? Has he said yes?" The queen asked.

They heard several thuds, and then their son said, "He... he's dead."

The two gasped in unison. "Grimm, you didn't-?"

"No! I didn't kill him! I would never..." his voice trailed off as the royals sighed in relief. The queen pushed open the door and went in, despite her son's objections, to comfort her brooding offspring. His room was totaled; furniture turned upside down and strewn about, random objects impaled in the walls, and there sat Grimmjow near the window, head in his hands. His mother wrapped her arms around him. Despite her small stature, and her son's large physique, Grimmjow always felt better when he was in his mothers arms.

"I haven't done this since you were a baby you know," she said softly. He looked at her and the pain was clear as day in his eyes.

...

"What was honestly going through that fool's mind?" Aizen pondered aloud to himself, as he strolled through the castle to the very bottom, the dark dungeon. He was of course referring to Yammy, the man he once trusted to carry out a very special task. He had a bemused smirk on his handsome face.

Seeking the help of scientist, the King Aizen transformed himself into a man beyond recognition of the once handsome man. He mixed together deadly ingredients to come up with the perfect disguise potion for his King. He used mummy dust, to age the man and weaken his bones. Then an old man's croaky woes to change his voice. He flattened his hair, turning it white and perched a pair of glasses over his nose to perfect the look. And, the most important part of his evil plan, the gleaming red apple. It looked innocent and tasty on the outside, but once consumed it's victim would endure sleeping death. And so, once Lord Aizen had checked his image twice, the now old man went on his way to commit, what he believed was the perfect crime.

He was left to his own thoughts as he strolled through the forest, humming a lovely song he had known for quite some time. An old man now, it would probably take more than half an hour to get to the espada's cottage. His bones were old and weak you see.

Ah but when he got there, it would all be worth it.

A/N: Short chapter :3 I didn't want to fit the next scene into this chapter.