A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in so long! I've been insanely busy and I'm surprised I got this up now with finals and everything going on. I should be able to update more often over the break since I won't have anything better to do! I apologize in advance if this chapter isn't exactly what you expected, but I still like it. :)

Chapter Five

Two hours later, Ulquiorra emerged from the back room where Urahara had led him, messing with the bandages on his cheeks. Renji glanced up at him with a smirk as he sat down in front of him.

"Never thought ya had it in ya to do something that drastic," he said as he wiped down the sticky bar with a wet rag.

Ignoring the slightly insulting comment, Ulquiorra glanced around the nearly-empty club, looking for Sado.

"Your friend went back there too," Renji said, noticing what he was doing. "I'm surprised you didn't run into him." When he didn't receive an answer, he pursed his lips and decided on a new way to get the silent teen to talk. "So what did ya get?"

The raven paused for a moment, contemplating whether or not he wanted to defy Kenpachi's rules and deciding that he didn't really give a damn. He pulled away one of the bandages and winced slightly as the adhesive pulled at his sensitive skin.

Renji let out a low whistle. "That looks like it hurt like hell. I'm guessing the other one is the same?" he asked, nodding toward the identical bandage on his other cheek. Ulquiorra nodded. "I don't know why, but for some reason, you didn't strike me as the tattoo type." His reply was a simple shrug. "Still not gonna talk, eh?"

The pale teen shook his head and stuck out his tongue, making Renji do a double take.

"Holy shit, a tongue ring too?" He chuckled under his breath. "You're going all out with this, aren't you?"

Ulquiorra shrugged again just as Sado emerged from the back room, a bandage stuck securely to his left arm. "You ready to go?" he asked, digging his car keys out of his pocket. His pale companion nodded, and they made for the door, waving goodbye to Renji and Kenpachi, who had stepped out of the back room, his job done for the night.

Just before Ulquiorra stepped over the threshold, he was stopped by a strong grip on his upper arm. He turned his head slightly and stared at Urahara, who was looking at him with that same displeased expression from earlier.

"I know you didn't just go back there for tattoos and piercings," he murmured, his voice so low that no one else had even the slightest chance of overhearing. "I want you to think long and hard about what you're about to do because once this has started, there's no stopping it."

"I know that," Ulquiorra said, his voice marred by his swollen tongue. He jerked his arm away from the blonde and sauntered out to the car where Sado was now honking at him. He knew exactly what he was getting into, and knowing that it was dangerous and completely irrevocable wasn't going to stop him.

….

When they pulled up to Sado's apartment complex, Ulquiorra found himself wrinkling his nose involuntarily. This place was much smaller than any living quarters he had ever seen, and it wasn't in the best of neighborhoods. It was a good thing that Sado had muscle on his side, or else he would have never survived in a place like this. It seemed like the kind of area with high crime rates and homeless people filling at least half of the population.

Sado, catching the scathing look, bristled a bit. "I know it's not much, but at least it's a roof over my head," he defended as he got out of the car.

"I don't think any worse of you for living here," the pale teen assured him, scowling when the Hispanic teen snickered at his voice. "Considering the fact that you're a minor living on your own while you're still in high school…this is quite the accomplishment."

"Thanks."

Once inside, Ulquiorra was thrown a shirt that was more than twice his size and was told that he could have bed, since there wasn't a guest room. To his confusion, Ulquiorra found himself protesting, saying that the couch was more than big enough to hold him, but it was not, however, big enough to hold Sado. They argued for the better part of thirty minutes before the larger teen finally gave in.

After saying their respective goodnights, Ulquiorra stretched himself out on the couch, staring up at the water-damaged ceiling and contemplating what he was about to set in motion.

There were so many ways his plan could go wrong, could backfire. Was it really worth causing all this trouble? After all, if he was caught, it would be his ass. He didn't know how his father would take something like this, but he knew that it wasn't going to be good. He really hoped that Kenpachi was as good as he was made up to be, or else this was going to turn out badly—very badly. As Urahara had said: once this was started, there was no stopping it.

"Are you sure about this?"

Ulquiorra glanced over at Sado, his annoyance apparent in every plain of his face. If he hadn't wanted to do this, he wouldn't be doing it, simple as that. His cause was more than worthy, and he knew that this was the only way to get what he wanted. Instead of answering the question that had been repeated since Ulquiorra had first explained the situation—well, part of it anyway—he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. When the person answered, he said—without bothering with a greeting—"Are you ready?" After receiving a confirmation, he tapped the End button and slid his phone into his back pocket without another word.

Sado sighed. "I still don't see why you just can't stay with me like you did these last two nights."

Ulquiorra rolled his eyes. "I've told you why already; now stop whining and get out of the car."

"And exactly why did we park almost a block away?" the burly Mexican asked as he slammed the door shut and locked the car.

Ulquiorra gave him a withering look. "You were so quiet when we first met. I miss that."

"Sorry."

He still couldn't get over how quickly their friendship—it still gave him shivers to think the word to himself—had blossomed over the day they'd spent together. Ulquiorra had found out just about everything there was to know about Sado: where he came from, why he was living on his own, his favorite food, his favorite color…everything. It almost made him feel bad that he had hardly told him anything about himself aside from the simple things, trivial things that just showed who he was on the surface, nothing of substance.

"You remember what to do, right?"

Sado nodded.

….

Ulquiorra shifted uncomfortably on Ichigo's couch, not meeting any of the curious gazes he could feel burning holes into his pale skin. His hands were beginning to sweat, his heart rate picking up speed, his mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he realized, with an indignant scowl, that he was nervous. He'd never been this nervous a day in his life, and the fact that a simple group of classmates were bringing the foreign emotion to the surface was beyond irritating.

"So…is someone gonna tell me what the hell is going on?" Grimmjow grumbled from the floor at Ichigo's feet, his head resting against his boyfriend's knees.

Ichigo flicked his lover's ear, whispering a scolding as he did so. He then looked at Sado expectantly; it was him that had called them all together, after all.

The large brunette cleared his throat, smoothing his shirt self-consciously. It wasn't like all the people in the room—Ichigo, Nnoitora, Tesla, Shinji, Luppi, Tatsuki, Rangiku, Orihime, Toshiro, and Ulquiorra—were strangers, but it was still a bit awkward to have them all staring at him like they were. He stumbled over his words a little before he was able to speak an intelligible sentence. "Well, I called you all because Ulquiorra here"—he motioned to where the teen in question was sitting beside him, his eyes glued to his black-painted fingernails—"is in a serious situation at home and needs a big favor of all of you…if you're willing to help him out."

"Of course we will," Orihime piped up immediately, "whatever it is."

Rangiku sat up a little straighter in the recliner she taken up occupation in. "It depends on what he's asking for," she corrected quietly, but firmly, causing her cousin to deflate a bit and a light pink blush to wash over her cheeks.

Nnoitora snorted from where he was leaning against the wall next to the TV, his arms folded across his middle. "I don't see why we should," he said, his words clear and harsh. "What has this stuck up little bitch ever done for us?"

Shinji slapped him across the arm, reprimanding him for his coarse language even though he silently agreed with his insensitive boyfriend. He glanced around the room, noticing that Ichigo was warring with his desire to help someone in need and his grudge he held against Ulquiorra for that little snip at Orihime at the hospital the other day; Grimmjow seemed as if he'd come to the same conclusion as Nnoitora; Rangiku looked apprehensive, but willing enough; Toshiro had skepticism written all over his boyish features, his eyes fixed intently on the still-silent pale boy running his long finger over his face tattoo; Orihime was still firm in her decision, as was obvious by the obstinate set of her jaw and the rare confident lift to her chin; Tatsuki was chewing on her bottom lip, still making her decision with no sign of coming close to a conclusion; Tesla and Luppi were both at Nnoitora's and Shinji's feet, ignoring the conversation and the accompanying tension, listening to Luppi's iPod and flipping through yet another magazine (Luppi was cooing over a black and purple checkered jacket that he claimed he just had to have while Tesla listened with an amused smirk).

"You don't have to decide right away," Ulquiorra assured them quietly, finally speaking up. "Wait until you've heard what it is I need and then decide. But I must ask you to keep everything that I tell you to yourself, whether you decide to help me or not." He raised his head, meeting all the intent, curious gazes with a serene expression. He paused, as if waiting for someone to interrupt. When no one did, he took a deep breath to steady himself and continued. "First of all, I'd like to tell you that you all are the some of the very few people that will ever know about what I am about to tell you—"

"How fuckin' touchin'," Nnoitora scoffed, earning a hard stomp on his foot from Shinji.

Ulquiorra stared at the tall raven for a moment before continuing. "I'm sure you have all probably heard of a man by the name of Sousuke Aizen."

There was a collective intake of breath as the tension got much heavier. Tesla and Luppi, no longer able to stay oblivious to the uncomfortable atmosphere, looked up in confusion, eying their surroundings. Tesla looked to Nnoitora for an explanation, while Luppi looked to Grimmjow. Both of the older teens shook their heads in a "not now" manner. Tesla simply nodded, while Luppi pouted, crossing his arms across his chest childishly.

Ulquiorra watched the exchange with keen eyes, taking note that Luppi and Grimmjow must have been related somehow, and so were Tesla and Nnoitora.

"He's my little brother," Grimmjow muttered, noticing Ulquiorra's stare. "Nnoi and Tesla are cousins, but they're the only family they've got left, so I guess you could say they're kind of like brothers."

Nnoitora obviously did not like Ulquiorra knowing his business; he glared at Grimmjow, his lip curling menacingly. Ichigo glared back, putting a protective hand on Grimmjow's head. Shinji, just now catching on to the brawl that was about to break out, put a restraining hand on his lover's chest, shaking his head warningly when Nnoitora turned his glower on him. Nnoitora relaxed immediately. He knew that when it came to Ichigo, Shinji would always choose his best friend over his boyfriend—he may have been able to take Ichigo without a problem, but taking on Ichigo with Shinji fighting along side him was complete suicide, not to mention the fact that Grimmjow would jump in too.

Deciding that this little scuffle had gone on long enough, Ulquiorra cleared his throat and spoke again. "As I was saying, you all have heard of Sousuke Aizen. Well…he is my father." After the words were out, he glanced out the window, pretending to watch the sun set over the horizon, but he was really using it as an excuse not to look anyone in the eye.

The silence that followed was full of questions that Ulquiorra wasn't by any means willing to answer.

"Oh, you poor thing!" Rangiku suddenly exclaimed at the same time Luppi demanded, "Who is Sousuke Aizen?" She rushed over to smother his face in her chest in what she most likely meant to be a hug. "You poor, poor baby," she cooed over and over.

"Rangiku, no!" Orihime cried, attempting to pry the overenthusiastic woman from the pale boy slowly suffocating under the crushing hug. "He can't breathe!"

Rangiku let go quickly, letting a rather dizzy Ulquiorra fall back on the couch cushions.

"Who is Sousuke Aizen?" Luppi repeated, sounding very disgruntled that his first attempt had gone completely ignored.

"Sousuke Aizen is a very dangerous criminal with his hand in more illegal organizations than anyone in history," Shinji answered flatly. "It makes him even more dangerous that he has managed to evade the authorities for so long. He's wanted in nearly every country for more things than you can even begin to imagine."

Both Luppi's and Tesla's eyes grew wide as dish plates. "Well, why not call the police?" Luppi scoffed when he recovered, his tone suggesting that Ulquiorra was a fool for not realizing this simple solution.

Everyone rolled their eyes.

"Luppi, you idiot," Grimmjow said, scrubbing a hand over his face. "Someone as powerful as Sousuke Aizen won't be caught by someone as weak as the local police. I doubt a SWAT team could take him out."

"Of course they couldn't," Ulquiorra said. "He has people working for him in that organization…and almost every other government organization as well."

Everyone just stared at him, stunned.

"Anyway," Ulquiorra said, dismissing the side conversation with an aloof wave of his hand, "what I need is help getting away from him." When he received unanimous "are you crazy" looks, he sighed and rephrased. "I mean, I'm running away from home, and I need somewhere where I can lay low for a bit, as well as help getting out after I run home and grab some things I need."

He didn't know why, but Grimmjow found himself raising his hand as if he was in school. "If you're trying to hide from him, why are you going back home in the first place?"

The pale raven sighed again. "Because there're important things at home that I need for a certain plan of mine," he answered, his voice getting more tired by the word.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

Ulquiorra just eyed him for a moment. "Now really isn't the time to tell you that. Moving on," he continued, talking over Ichigo when he made to protest, "I need three people." He held up three fingers, ticking off the jobs of the people as he said them. "I need someone to drive me up there—actually, that person will have to be Sado, considering the circumstances—another person to pick me up…and someone else to stand in as a decoy for me." He looked around to make sure everyone was following him before answering the silent question in Sado's eyes. "Sado—"

"Call me Chad," Sado interrupted.

"Chad," Ulquiorra started over, "you have to be the one to drive me there because it's highly likely that my father knows that I associate with you." Chad replied with an expression of pure bewilderment, so he elaborated. "There is a good chance that my father has numerous servants of his watching the house—not that he has any reason to—and since you were the one I was with the last night I was at home, it needs to be you that is driving."

"Then why do you need someone else to pick you up?" Tatsuki asked.

"Because the decoy will be going with Chad, while I go with whoever is picking me up—who, by the way, will need to park a good four blocks away so they will not be seen. Now, I would like to let all of you know, that it is very likely that I will not be staying with any of you, so as not to put any of you in any more danger than is absolutely necessary." At this everyone nodded. "Now, that is about all that needs to be said. You may make your decisions now."

Immediately, Ichigo shot up out of his seat. "I'll be the decoy," he said.

Ulquiorra shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. When the redheaded teen looked outraged, he explained. "Number one: you're far too bulky to pass as me. Number two: you're too tall. And number three: you're hair is orange and too spiky to hide under the hood of a jacket."

Ichigo flopped back into his seat, deflated.

"I'll be the decoy," Tatsuki interjected quietly.

Ulquiorra looked her over, silently approving before saying, "Are you sure? This is probably going to be very dangerous."

Her brow furrowed. "Dangerous how?"

The pale raven took another deep breath and said, "Because you and Chad…are mostly likely—no definitely—going to be followed."

….

"What are you going to say when you're caught by my father's 'employees'?" Ulquiorra suddenly fired at his companion.

Chad sighed. "This again?"

"Yes, again; I want to make sure this goes by perfectly."

"I'm a friend of Ulquiorra's, and even though I haven't known him all that long, I'd trust him with my life."

Ulquiorra paused his walking. "That was something new," he commented. "Would you really trust me with your life?"

Chad nodded. "Of course I would. You're a pretty trustworthy guy."

Ulquiorra shook his head. "Not everyone is as trustworthy as they seem," he whispered. It was so low that it left Chad wondering if he had really said anything at all. "Damn," he muttered. At the quizzical look he received from Chad, he said, "I didn't think to run over it again with Tesla."

Chad just shook his head. "There's no need; Tesla and Nnoitora come from a life on the streets. They know when to play their part, and they know how to survive in the toughest of situations—even if they're staring down the barrel of a gun." He glanced at Ulquiorra, who had gone silent in wonder. "Trust me, Tesla's lines will be perfect. You couldn't have picked a better decoy."

….

"I don't really know him that well, but my friends are—"

"Stop," Ulquiorra commanded, his head falling into his hands. They'd already been at this for about an hour, and Tatsuki still couldn't get her lines right. It was really starting to get on his nerves. Was this girl some kind of idiot? He looked back up at the girl in question with tired eyes. "You're not listening to my instructions."

Tatsuki's brow twitched angrily. "I am!"

"If you were, we wouldn't still be doing this." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands folded under his chin. "By saying that you're not a friend of mine"—he shuddered internally at the unfamiliar word—"you're saying that you're useless, and they'll kill you. However, if you go even the slightest bit overboard with your lies, they will deem you both a nuisance and useless, and they'll kill you. Do you understand even one bit of what I'm saying to you?"

Tatsuki glared balefully at him. "Of course I do!" She huffed indignantly and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not stupid," she added under her breath.

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow. "Really? You could have fooled me."

This time, Ichigo stood, glowering at the offending teenager. "Hey, hold on a sec," he said through his teeth. "Who do you think you are, talking to Tatsuki like that?"

Ulquiorra simply ignored him, but Tatsuki waved her hot-headed friend away. "Ichigo," she said softly, "it's alright; I understand why he's being such a jerk." She twiddled her thumbs nervously. "I'm really the only one that could do this, but I keep screwing up. He's just trying to keep me alive is all."

"Yeah, but he doesn't have to be such an asshole about it," Ichigo grumbled.

Ulquiorra let his eyes wander around the room as the two continued to talk. He paused when his eyes landed on Tesla.

Tesla, a sandy blonde with trusting gray eyes, seemed to feel his gaze, and glanced up to meet vivid green eyes. The two held each other's stare for a moment before Ulquiorra began to look him over, a plan forming in his head.

"Actually," he said, talking over whatever Ichigo had been about to say, "Tesla would also fit the part quite nicely if we put a hat and a hood on his head. He would probably fit better than you, Tatsuki."

All eyes turned on the blonde, who averted his eyes to the dingy carpet, embarrassed to have so many eyes on him at once. Nnoitora kicked his little cousin, and Tesla glanced up into a slanted violet eye.

"So?" Nnoitora said, vexed by the silence.

Tesla blushed. "Do…do you want me to do it?"

Nnoitora rolled his eye and bent down, dragging Tesla to his feet by the scruff of his neck. "Do ya wanna do it, Tes? It's up ta you, not me."

Tesla stared down at his feet, twiddling his thumbs nervously. Luppi nudged him in the shin from where he was still lounging on the floor.

"No one's forcing you into this, you know," he assured his friend. "Tatsuki can still do it and everything will be just fine."

Tesla looked up and locked eyes with Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra stared right back at him, and before Tesla knew it was happening, he opened his mouth and said, "I'll do it."

….

They reached the fringe of bushes at the end of Ulquiorra's street, and he held out a hand to let Chad know to stop. "Duck down behind those bushes," he muttered, his eyes roaming for anyone that might be watching. "Text Tesla and tell him to get down here." After checking to make sure that Chad was sufficiently hidden, he jogged up to his house and began climbing the tree nearest his bedroom window.

His brow furrowed when he noticed it was already open. He cautiously stuck his head through the window and scowled at what he found. There was a figure snuggled into his bed sheets, snoring softly. Ulquiorra had a pretty good idea who it was, and he really didn't feel like dealing with him tonight. So instead of shaking the person awake, he set to stuffing his bag with anything that would fit. Clothes weren't an issue; he could always buy more. But things of sentimental value (his only picture of his real father, his picture of him and his best friend from eight years ago, his old teddy bear he'd had since he was born) were the first to go into the bag, along with a few pairs of clean underwear.

There was a rustling sound as the person on the bed stirred.

As was expected, the first identifying feature—the only one needed, actually—revealed was a head full of bubble-gum pink hair. He yawned, and then sleepy golden eyes found Ulquiorra. Szayel's eyes widened in shock and then began to fill with tears. As if that wasn't surprising enough, he then leapt from the bed, wrapping his arms tightly around Ulquiorra's neck.

"Oh, I was so w-worried!" he sobbed.

Unaccustomed to such actions, Ulquiorra blushed, his brilliant green eyes confused and lost. "What were you doing in my bed, Szayel?"

Szayel pulled back, his eyes still red and puffy. "I…I got lonely. Ilforte left three nights ago and didn't come back. So I came over to ask if you'd seen him, but your mom said you hadn't come home either, and then I started worrying even more. But I knew you'd come home sometime, so thought I'd wait here for you." It was all said in a rush, and for a moment, Ulquiorra just stared at him, slowing it down in his head.

Then he sighed and put a finger to his lips, silently telling Szayel to be quiet.

Szayel's brows furrowed. "What? But…."

Ulquiorra shook his head and clamped his free had down on the other's mouth. Though he was obviously still confused, Szayel nodded.

Then Ulquiorra went back to his packing. It was already dangerous coming back here in the first place. This whole room could be bugged, and he had no way of being sure. If it was, he was screwed.

Sousuke Aizen woke to the sound of his ringing cell phone. He gently pushed his wife away, careful not to wake her. He glanced at the number and immediately connected the call. "What is it, Yammy?"

"He's here."

Aizen smirked. Either that kid was an idiot, or he had some nerve. Without a saying another word, he hung up and rolled out of bed, pulling on his pajama pants and a shirt. He glanced back down at the bed and wasn't surprised to see saddened, bright green eyes staring back at him.

"Sousuke," his wife whispered. "Where are you going?"

"I don't think that's any of your business," he simply replied, making his way toward the door.

"But—"

"Do you remember what I told you before we got married?"

The woman on the bed suddenly lost the will to look into her husband's eyes. "You said, 'Remember why we're doing this. Don't make the mistake of trusting me, especially by falling in love with me.'," she whispered bitterly.

Aizen nodded. "Exactly. I warned you, but you didn't listen. The strife you're going through now is because of your own stupidity."

And with that, he once again left his wife to her own misery.

Ulquiorra glanced around the room, making sure he had everything he needed. Szayel remained silent, watching keenly, as if by doing so he could uncover some kind of explanation. No such luck. When he was satisfied, the pale raven turned back to his visitor, nodding toward the window. Thankfully, Szayel didn't ask any further questions and moved silently toward the window.

"Don't you know it's rude to come into someone's house without speaking to them first?" a cool voice inquired from the open door behind them.

Ulquiorra didn't have to turn around to know that he was in deep shit.