Chapter Eight – Falling to Pieces
Ichigo's Point of View
The men were returning from another day of battle, their armour streaked and dulled by blood. I saw several patting each other on the back, some carrying or supporting dead or injured comrades. I watched all of this from the cold marble perch of Grimmjow's memorial. I had seen the armies fight earlier today, gone was their discipline and pride, and the fear factor that had accompanied Grimmjow's presence.
"How did this happen Grimm?" I watched as they all went back to their tents in different areas of the camp. "I wish you could hear me Grimm, I want to know where you are. Do you even still think of me?"
"Yes" the sound came as a rough whisper, as if the sound had bounced from stone and dirt before reaching me. But the voice was so distinctly his.
"Grimmjow!" I became hyper aware of my surroundings, looking for him everywhere, listening for him. Time passed, I only knew that because the sun rolled further towards the horizon, and I still did not hear him again. "Grimm?" still nothing.
I went back to focusing on the camp again, some men washing the blood from them in the stream, others, still bloodied, hauling chunks of meat onto fires to cook, women carrying amphorae of wine and buckets of water here and there. The usual post battle routine, bringing back more memories.
I sat in our tent in a silent rage, not caring if the blue haired bastard ever came back from that stupid fight. How dare he send me away like I was some scared woman? Spatters of dark crimson were flecked over my body; I had only ditched the uncomfortable bronze chest plate and helmet when I got back to the tent, leaving the rest of my armour and clothes in place.
After what seemed like eons the clatter and brawl of the army returning sounded through the camp, from their triumphant hollering I could tell they had won the battle. Rising to my feet I pushed out of the tent, intending to head to the nearby stream to wash the foreign blood from my skin. Instead I ran into a solid wall of bloodied brass and blue.
"Where ya goin?" he looked down at me from the shadows of his helmet before pulling it from his head.
"The stream" I gestured to the blood flecked all over me. My voice was clipped and rough.
"I'll come with you" I had no heart to stop him, all my anger had dissipated when I saw him. I just resumed walking, looking back to see him leave his helmet in the tent before following.
The walk was made in silence, the soft clank of bronze and the creak of leather kept it from being too suffocating. I plunged my feet straight into the stream when we reached it, wanting to wash my shoes of the blood. Grimmjow paused at the stream's edge; his fingers deftly releasing the buckles holding the brilliantly polished sheets of bronze to his arms, chest and legs before placing it all on the ground. Now that I properly looked at him I saw how covered in blood he was, it caked and dried on his hands and forearms, even the pale tunic he wore under his armour was partially stained crimson. Only his blue hair, which had been crushed under the helmet, had escaped the spatter.
I went back to washing the blood from my own skin as he splashed into the water behind me. I kept my back towards him, still wanting him to know I wasn't happy with him. I knew his pride wouldn't let him apologise without some kind of prompt.
"Ichigo" I felt his hand on my shoulder, cooled from the fresh water. He tugged to pull me to face him. He looked into my eyes before he spoke, gauging my mood "I'm sorry, but I almost lost it when I saw you almost get killed"
"You don't say!" I remembered the rush of relief that had come when the spear had struck my attacker in the neck, making him drop his sword from my exposed throat.
"Ichi, don't be like this! You didn't even want to be there anyway!"
"That's not the point Grimmjow!" my voice rose in volume a little.
"What is the point then?" he growled back at me. "You want to get killed? Is that it?" he threw his arms out to the side in frustration.
"No, I don't, and I don't want you to get killed either!" his face paled at my words, the weight of his death sentence hanging over his head.
"You have no choice in that" his voice was suddenly quiet, resigned.
"I know" I sighed the words, my shoulders falling. "But if you never kill Hector, it won't happen right?" I could feel hope spreading like a cancer through my chest, eating away all reason and sanity.
"It won't work that way Ichi, you know that" he began to walk up to the bank, stooping to pick up his armour on the way out. I just stood in the water and watched him walk away. I called after him, being struck to silence when he didn't turn around.