Chapter 11: Answers
"Ichigo!" Nel squinted through the rain, pulling her hair away from her eyes as she ran after him. "Please stop!"
Ichigo sighed and turned to see Nel running up to him. "What?" He asked when she caught up.
"Where are you going?"
"Home." He turned but Nel grabbed his arm.
"What did Grimmjow do?!"
Ichigo whirled round. "Don't say that fucking name to me! I don't ever want to hear that bastards name again!"
"Ichigo..."
"Please let go Nel."
"No." She shook her head gripping him tighter. "Not until you explain what the hell's going on!"
"I don't know!" He threw his arms up in frustration. "One minute everything's fine and the next I'm being dumped and kicked out in the damn rain! If you want answers go talk to that bastard of a brother of yours!"
"He won't listen. Please Ichigo come back. Talk to him!"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I can't go back there Nel. I don't even think I can face seeing him again. Please let go."
"Not until you talk to him."
"Why? I'm just another guy to him aren't I? Nothing worth remembering and definitely not worth keeping!"
She shook her head sadly. "You know that's not true."
"Of course it is. This is Grimmjow Jaeggerjaques we're talking about. He'll never find anyone worthy of him and frankly I'm glad he thinks that of me. Now I don't have to spend one more damn minute in his company."
"You don't mean that Ichigo."
"I do."
He pried his arm free and walked off, leaving Nel to watch him go sadly before turning around and heading back.
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"Brother is that you?" Yuzu looked up as the door opened smiling, but it quickly disappeared when she saw her soaking wet brother. "Ichigo?"
He smiled brightly. "Hey Yuzu! Everything ok? Good! Now if you'll excuse me I'm going upstairs. Bye!" He disappeared up the stairs but popped his head back grinning. "Oh and I don't want any dinner ok?"
"Ok?"
"Also tell mum and dad to leave me alone yeah?"
"Sure..."
"Thanks Yuzu!"
Karin flattened herself against the wall as Ichigo ran past. "Nice to see you too Ichigo!" She yelled at his retreating back before joining Yuzu. "What's wrong?" She asked seeing Yuzu's worried face.
"Something's wrong with brother."
"Something's always wrong with Ichi. Don't let it bother you."
"No I mean seriously wrong. He was smiling and acting so cheerful it was creepy. He isn't joining us for dinner and he doesn't want to see mum or dad either."
"You're right this is strange. Maybe we should call Grimmjow..."
Yuzu smiled brightly. "Yeah! He'll know what to do!" Clapping her hands she jumped up and dialled Grimmjow's number. "Hello? Grimmjow?"
"Yeah?"
"It's Yuzu."
Grimmjow sat up. "What's up?" Even though he'd literally just broken it off with Ichigo he still thought of the twins as his sisters.
"Something's wrong with Ichigo. Can you come see him?"
He groaned. "That's not a good idea Yuzu. I'm the last person he'll want to see."
"But Ichi loves you of course he'll want to see you!"
"Yuzu I can't. Also I doubt love is what he's feeling towards me right now."
"Why?" Karin watched as Yuzu's confused looked changed to sadness. "Why'd you do that?" She whispered into the headset.
"Because it was for the best."
"Is that why brother's acting strange?"
"Probably. Look you shouldn't call here again. Don't tell him you did either."
"Ok. Bye."
Grimmjow sighed as she hung up and laid back on his bed. "Fuck. Sorry Ichigo."
"So what's up?"
Yuzu smiled sadly. "Grimmjow won't be coming."
"Why?"
"He broke up with Ichigo."
Karin frowned. "What the hell? Why'd he do that?"
Yuzu shrugged. "He said it was for the best, he wouldn't say anything else."
"No wonder Ichigo's acting weird..."
"What's wrong with Ichigo?! Has something happened? Tell me my children I must know!" Isshin bounded into the room frowning. If the twins were worried it must be serious.
"Nothing dad."
"Are you sure? Where is your brother? Maybe I should go talk to him... Yes! A father-son chat will do the trick!"
"Dad wait!" Yuzu grabbed his arm to stop him running upstairs. "Ichigo said he wants to be left alone!"
"Something's wrong!" Isshin stopped and thought for a moment before grinning. "Masaki!"
Hearing Isshin call her name, Masaki walked in. "Yes dear?"
"The twins are worried for Ichigo! Something's terribly wrong but I won't help apparently so its up to you!"
She sighed and looked at Karin. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "Ask Ichigo. I don't know the full story so anything I say could be wrong."
"Ok. I'll go talk to him."
"Thanks mum."
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"What's up with everyone? It's quieter than a funeral in here!" Nnoitra grumbled sitting down for dinner. "And where's Grimmy?"
"He won't be joining us." Aizen said calmly.
"Why not? Oh I get it! He's getting in on with the strawberry aint he?!" Nnoitra smirked. "Well I hope they don't mind me interrupting..."
"Ichigo's not here." Nel said quietly.
"Why not?"
She shook her head sadly and Aizen cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Ichigo won't be coming back here again."
"Why not?" Starrk lifted his head frowning, he actually liked the guy.
"Grimmjow dumped the kid." Ulquiorra said flicking some dirt of his sleeve.
"What?"
"It was for the best."
Lilynette snorted. "Whatever you say Ulquiorra."
Gin sighed. "I don't think Grimmjow feels up to joining us."
Nnoitra scoffed. "Why? He dumped the kid didn't he? He was the one who got bored so what's his problem? I guess the strawberry was just like all the others after all."
Nel stood up abruptly. "I'm going to Grimmjow." She left without another word and the others watched her.
Tier sighed. "Something's wrong."
"Who cares?"
"Shut up Luppi!"
"Wait... So what's going on?"
"Never mind Yammy."
"Whatever..."
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Ichigo sighed and slid down his door once he'd reached his room. Burying his head in his knees, the teen breathed deeply trying to control his emotions. Trying to ignore the tears falling down his face and what felt like a whole being ripped in his heart.
Why? Why would he do that? Why the hell would he go through all that trouble just to throw me away like that? Was I really nothing more than a cheap screw? Why'd he say he loved me when he doesn't even give a shit?
"Grimmjow..."
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Grimmjow sat up as someone knocked on the door. "Fuck off."
Nel ignored him and opened the door. "Hey Grimmy."
"What do you want?"
She shut the door and hesitantly sat on the edge of the bed. "What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me. I know you wouldn't just break up with Ichigo for no reason."
"You don't know shit."
"Grimmjow..."
He glared at her. "You want to know the truth? I got bored of him. So I got rid of him." He shrugged. "There's plenty of others and I got what I wanted anyway."
Nel shook her head. "Don't lie."
"I'm not lying."
"You love him."
Grimmjow flinched as Nel's words cut through him like a knife. "Don't say that Nel."
She leant forward. "You love him don't you?"
"Stop it."
"It's more than that isn't it? You're in love with him."
"Shut up!" Grimmjow yelled hitting the wall. "I don't give a fuck about the damn kid ok?!"
Nel stood up shaking her head. "You can't deny it Grimmjow. Whatever you do you'll always love him. So why fight it? Why cause all this pain for no reason?"
"Like I said you don't know shit."
"Ever since you met Ichigo you've been different! You've been happier! I'm glad you found each other but this is ridiculous!" Nel yelled clenching her fists. "What could've possibly happened to make you do this?"
"He lied!"
"About what?"
"..."
"Grimmjow!"
"About everything! About us!"
"What do you mean?"
Grimmjow walked to his desk and picked up a folder before handing it to Nel. "Here."
Frowning she opened it and saw pictures of Ichigo with someone else. "So? He's with someone. Big deal."
"Keep looking."
Nel flicked through and stared shocked at the last one. Ichigo was being pushed up against the wall and the other was kissing him whilst one hand was placed on Ichigo's groin. "What? This can't be right... There must be some mistake!"
"Like I said. I don't feel shit for him and he clearly don't for me."
"Who is this?" She pointed at the man in the picture. He had pale skin, long white hair and looked almost exactly like Ichigo.
"Aizen says his name is Shiro."
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Masaki sighed standing outside Ichigo's door before knocking and entering. "Ichigo?" She looked around the dark room and saw a lump curled up in the bed. "Ichigo sweetheart what is it?"
"Mum?"
"Yes it's me." Ichigo peered out over the covers as she knelt next to him. "You can tell me."
Ichigo hesitated before throwing himself into his mother's arms. "Its.. Its Grimmjow..."
"What happened?" She asked soothingly, stroking his hair.
"He... broke up with me."
"What?"
"One minute everything was fine and then he just told me it was over and kicked me out! He didn't even explain! Did I do something wrong? Why would he say he loves me then leave me?!"
"I don't know Ichigo. But it's going to be ok."
"How?" He mumbled burying his head in her shoulder.
"It just will be. Things like this have a habit of working themselves out eventually. Grimmjow will come see you if he really loves you and explain."
"Really?"
"I'm sure of it."
Ichigo laughed shakily. "Thanks mum."
"Good lad. Are you going to come down for dinner?"
"No... I... want to be alone for a bit."
"Ok."
Masaki kissed Ichigo's head softly and left the room. Ichigo sighed and curled up in his bed again, trying to make sense of everything and not have a mental breakdown.
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"You have to talk to him Grimmjow."
"No."
"Why not?"
"How do I talk to him about it? 'Oh hey Ichigo listen, I know you've been going around snogging some guy called Shiro. So tell me, when were you going to mention this to me? Your supposed boyfriend?' Yeah, that'll be a great conversation. Not!" Grimmjow looked at Nel blankly.
"There's something not right about this..."
"Damn right there isn't! Ichigo making out with some guy who isn't me! Of course it isn't right!"
"No I mean look at this picture." Nel indicated to the one of them kissing. "I just can't seem to put my finger on it..."
Grimmjow snorted. "Here let me help." He pointed at them. "Ichigo and... some guy who aint me!"
"Yes I know that."
"How could he?!" Nel raised her eyebrows at Grimmjow who didn't seem to notice as he continued. "I mean, I thought we had something, something good! I thought..." He waved a hand and lowered his voice. "... I thought he loved me." Grimmjow snorted. "Obviously not. I don't deserve someone like him anyway..."
"Stop it Grimmjow. Don't talk like that." She squealed suddenly making him jump.
"What?!"
"Look at the picture!"
"Jeeze Nel I don't want to look at it anymore!"
"No look!" She pointed excitedly at Ichigo. "He's struggling!"
Grimmjow blinked and snatched the photo up, looking at it closely. "What?"
"This Shiro guy has Ichigo's hands pinned and Ichigo's face says it all doesn't it! Besides does it look like a normal couple making out?"
"Now that you mention it... Shit! How could I have been so stupid! Fuck!"
Grimmjow jumped up and started to the door. "Where are you going?"
"To Ichigo of course! I'm going to beg him to take me back! I'll make him see no matter what, how much of an idiot I am for letting him go."
"Wait!"
"What Nel?" Grimmjow huffed impatiently looking at her.
"Don't forget these!" She sang pushing the photos into his hands.
"Thanks Nel! See you later!"
"Good luck!"
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Szayel sighed and went to open the front door. It had been a long day and now he wanted somewhere quiet to sit with a nice book to curl up with. Just as his hand touched the doorknob it flew open and he was thrown backwards by a blue tornado.
"Grimmjow!"
"Sorry Szayel I'll explain later!" Grimmjow yelled running down the street.
"Damn idiot." The pink head muttered, picking himself up and dusting himself off. Only to be knocked down again by a grinning Nel.
"Good luck Grimmy!"
"Thanks!"
"Nelliel!" He yelled.
"What?"
Sighing Szayel stood up again. "Nothing..." This is going to be an extremely LONG day...
