Pitifully short I know... Angsty and something no one could have anticipated :D Read on my fellow GrimmXIchi fans, and take in this 'riveting' chapter of The Hardest of Truths.

Oh yea and thx to RamencupMiso, you've been with this story since the beginning and I luv u for it! -applause-

Ichigo lay on his bed, crying. He had yelled at Grimmjow; he had let his anger rule him again… He turned over so that he could lie on his side. He had no one… and he wasn't going to get involved with Uryuu anymore… it would be worse than the break up they had.

"Ichi-nii… You have some mail…" Karin opened the door and walked over to the teen's bed, who was hastily wiping his tears.

"It's from an American address… "Ichigo looked at the official envelope, awestruck. Who would mail him from America?

Ichigo opened the letter and read.

Dear ,

The Goldstein Institution of Art is extending you an invitation to join our prestigious foreign board program. You are one of the twenty teenagers whose artwork passed our screening with outstanding critiques! We would be glad to have you and hope you consider our invitation. Attached are the details and appropriate forms required for your enrollment at the Goldstein Institute.

Ichigo flipped the page and read the details. He would get free board, and an allowance of $200 a month for art supplies and books that he needed, plus a 60% cut of any profits his artwork. He flipped through the rest of the papers, which were in both Japanese and English.

Ichigo was so swept up in his moment of pride that he forgot about everything else; the heartbreak from Grimmjow, the fact that he would be leaving anything and everything he knew… He didn't even stop to ask himself how his art had even been submitted!

Ichigo ran down the stairs, shouting all the while to his dad; He had asked for escape and nothing could be better than what he was being offered.

"You're what?!" Ichigo scowled as he tried to explain to Rukia that he was leaving for America the next day. The night before his dad had contacted the Institute and they arranged everything; He would fly to Philadelphia the next day and his stuff would soon follow.

"I'm leaving tomorrow,"

Rukia stared at him, in utter and complete shock.

"What about your shinigami duties? We're at war!"

"Yamamoto says it can't hurt to have one more Shinigami in the States. There's nothing left to worry about. No loose ends!"

Rukia's lower lip quivered; He knew she didn't want him to leave, but he had no other choice. This wasn't his home anymore…

"What about Grimmjow?"

That struck a very sensitive and raw cord. Ichigo turned to look at his best friend and shook his head.

"What about Grimmjow? We're broken up! He has his little fuck toy and I'm perfectly fine with it! I don't care..."

Rukia stared at him, and then a sad smile graced her lips.
"You know that's not true Ichigo... You know it. But if you want to pretend... I won't stop you..."

She moved next to him and then gripped him in an unexpected hug.

"Just promise you won't forget me... Ne?"

Ichigo nodded numbly and felt his resolve weaken just the tiniest bit; he hated to leave her behind, but he had to. This town just held too much pain for him.

Ichigo got up just as the final bell rang. This was his last day walking these halls. He waved goodbye to Rukia who still sat on the bench, her eyes filled to the brim with sadness. Ichigo walked out of the room.

"Sayonara Ichigo..." And Rukia fell to the floor, tears streaking down her cheeks as she watched the only man she trusted walk out the door forever.

"GRIMMJOW!! YOU ASS!" Grimmjow sat up alertly in his bed as Matsumoto forced her way into his room.

"Yes, I'm feeling fine, thanks for asking! Now what the living hell are you doing in my room!?"

Matsumoto stopped at the foot of his bed and leaned over him, a death glare on her face.

"Do you know what happened today you self serving worthless piece of ass?!"

Grimmjow shook his head cautiously. "What happened...?"

"Ichigo is leaving Japan for America tomorrow and according to Rukia. It's. All. Your. Fault!"

Grimmjow stood up to avoid suffocation and paced the length of the room. "What do you mean it's my fault? I haven't said anything to Berry!"

"Usotske! As if I didn't hear the fight that you and Ichigo got into yesterday! Everyone heard it! And what you said was freaking ignorant! Ichigo is jealous of Ulquiorra and is suffering from trauma on top of it and you wanted him to apologize for it!? That was low Grimmjow and you know it!"

Grimmjow recoiled as though he had been hit and then stood his ground; he was not going to be yelled at by this woman!

"I don't care what you think! That was between me and Ichigo! Whether he was jealous of Ulquiorra was never relevant! I got demoted becau-"

"Listen here Jeaggerjaques! Ichigo is leaving. Because of your assholeness! You better believe that whether he was jealous or not is relevant otherwise you will be out on the streets freezing your tail off!"

With that Matsumoto stomped out and slammed the door behind her, leaving a stunned Grimmjow in her wake.

Ichigo woke up the next day, a feeling of dread and excitement in his stomach. Well, today was the day; the day he would leave Japan...

He got up completely ignoring his cell phone which was beeping and flashing. It didn't matter, he was leaving and it was probably just Rukia sobbing on the phone again... No need for more drama before he left... Ichigo went to his closet and took out his suitcase and double checked he had everything.

He would be flying to the States today and his stuff would follow him the next day to the Institute. Ichigo pulled out a pair of shorts from his drawers and a black tee and walked to the bathroom. He needed to be at the airport by three and it was already one thirty....

Ichigo padded into the bathroom, remembering when he had been younger and he had taken baths with his dad... when his mom was still alive

"Ichigo! Do you wanna take a bath with papa?" A four year old Ichigo peered over a small table that was set up in his room and dropped his colors onto the plastic tabletop."Un!"

Ichigo was scooped up by his dad and carried into the bathroom.

After an hour of much splashing and spilt water, Ichigo ran out of the bathroom, clad in his blue pajamas and all smiles. He bumped into a warm figure and fell to the floor; his face broke into an exuberant smile as he saw his mom, the woman whom was responsible for lighting up his entire world.

"Mama!" Ichigo jumped up and was scooped into warm arms. He lay his head on her shoulder, content with the attention he was getting, and allowed himself to be carried into his room, the room that later on in his life would be the center of his depression....

Ichigo felt tears streaming down his face. He couldn't leave... Wouldn't that be betraying his mom? How could he just pack up and leave everything...? Ichigo sank to the cold tiled floor of his bathroom and cried his heart out.

There were two reasons he cried; one, because he missed his mom and two, because even though he wasn't ready to leave, he would... and nothing would change his mind.

Warned you it was angsty didn't I? Well review ! it makes me happy :D