Chapter 4: Pieces Still Live on

I had built up my world so well around Aizen words. I had already accepted that Grimm was dead. And now that world was falling. Crumbling down around me, as I stared into his eyes. Just like 3 years ago on this same day, when I watch him die. I stood staring at him as he stood before me.

'Is this forever?!?!'

Grimmjow's POV

It took a few moments before I noticed had stopped and lowered my weapon. She was watching me with wide eyes. I felt something flash in the back of my mind.

Anger, sorrow, worry but mostly panic. I looked down to see her face,
"Run Hotaru run" I heard my own voice. Then pain took over my senses and the last thing I saw was her hand reaching out and a scream spiting the night air.

It was gone as suddenly as it came and I found myself staring back at the little girl here in front of me. Footstep pounded behind me and I turned in time to block Ichigo's sword to the head. He turned and landed between me and the girl, picking her up and flash stepping away. 'What was that' I stood confused, was that a vision? Or just my imagination. No it was way too real, for me to just imagine, it had to be a vision. Now the only question was it of the future or the past?

Hotaru's POV

"Hotaru what are you doing here?" Ichigo demanded as soon as we were a safe distance from Grimmjow.

"What are you doing here?" I shot back; he really had no right to be mad. When he had been keeping everything from me, but not really……. I would just play along.

"I… well I…….." he stumbled for an answer. I rolled my eyes.

"Ichigo is there any point in trying to hide it from me anymore; I mean I can see everything, he's right there."

"Well I guess you have a point" he laughed. "But now's not the time to talk, just stay here" I nodded.

"And Hotaru how did you know Grimmjow's name?" I thought quickly "Um well I….heard you say it earlier"

"OK" he still looked hesitant but didn't press the matter. I looked around checking the surrounding battles. Rangiku and Rukia were fending off a swarm of Menos. Above them Renji was fighting a lost battle against Nnorita. Ulquiorra stood off to the side surveying all the activity searching for something. Beside him Stark looked like he was zoning out on the spot….. Standing. I frowned there had been another spiritual presence here. Hadn't there?

Toshiro's POV

It seemed like it was heading down to the carnival.

"Hey Shiro it looks like she's heading to the carnival" Mizora landed next to me looking at the hooded figure up ahead. The person had stopped and seemed to be checking for spirit pressure.

"What do you think she's looking for?" the question wasn't directed at anything but Mizora answered never less pulling out a kunai and shrugging back at me.

"What ever it is she's not gona get it." I nodded unsheathing Hyourinmaru and flash stepping to join her.

"Sit upon the frosted heavens… Hyourinmaru!!!!!" The figure spun around startled and fled with Mizora right behind her. I flashsteped after them, seeing a shorter way and cutting the chase off. The figure whipped around to face me I raised my sword and brought it down. She blocked it with hers….. My eye's widened………..impossible…that sword …..???

Hotaru's POV

I watched the battle go on, it was obvious that Grimmjow was going to win. There was no way Ichigo could look after me and fight full force against an espada at the same time. I wanted to stop this battle. But there was no way I could just explain everything.

Distant roaring rumbled in the distance, I spun around. A menos looked down upon the battle field along with many others some of them bearing the beginnings of a cero. Rangiku was tending to an injured Rukia who was lying unconscious on the ground. The first cero hurtling toward us.

"Ichigo watch out-" I was cut off by Ichigo as he got us out of the way. He breathed a sigh of relief. Grimmjow had moved standing on the hill looking down with amusement.

"Few that was a close one wasn't it, I wonder how many more of though you can pull Ichigo" he laughed before continuing. "I was hopping you would figure this out your self but, you know it's that girl that's attracting all the menos. Hence why we're here"

'I what?!?!?' checking my rejestu, it turned out he was right. 'Damn' I thought quickly lower it back down to an unnoticeable level………………

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The rough bark brushed against my face as I sat among the top branches of the old oak tree that stood at the top of a cliff. Its tall branches over looked the entire city, towering above all else. The sun set over the mountains, and I watched it's last rays fade from the sky leaving behind the still, darkness of night.

'It was time to go.'

Three days after the festival
Three days after Ichigo and the others "reviled" to me being shimigami.
Three days after the day Grimmjow's death day……….and three days after I saw him standing on the same hill as an espada……..
Maybe…. Is it possible…………Maybe pieces of the heart still live on?

The decision was already made; I was going to Hueco Mundo.

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Grimmjow's POV……………..