Part 8- Breakdowns and Feuds

Seireitei is just as boring and uniform as it always it, Ichigo's wild spirit already screaming protests at him. He follows Byakuya back to the Kuchiki compound, the place he grew up… his family. Rukia is already there with Renji, the two having been seeing one another for two years before Ichigo found Grimmjow. Rukia hit mating age before him, but Renji was already lined up to take her hand. He doesn't know who they had in mind for himself, but he's never bothered to ask the Kuchiki heir… after all, he had Grimmjow and didn't need anyone else.

"Ichigo, you're back!" Rukia grins as she hugs him.

"Where were you? We were so worried those Espada locked you up in a tiny cell for their own amuse…"

"Renji!" Byakuya snaps harshly.

"Uh… right… sorry, Taicho," he chuckles nervously.

Seireitei is run by divisions, so uniform, and Yamamoto is the head of all the divisions. Since there are so many more Shinigami than Espada, the divisions act as different clans and each have a Taicho and a Fuko-Taicho… Renji is Byakuya's second for the sixth division. There are three that have no leaders, as Aizen, Gin, and Tousen all deserted for the Espada.

"You didn't have to worry so much," Ichigo frowns. "Grimmjow took care of me, just like a mate is supposed to do."

"You're seriously gonna tell us that poor excuse for an evolved gargoyle is your mate?" Renji snorts in humor. "You've lost it!"

There's really no warning before it happens, but one minute Ichigo is scowling as usual and the next Renji is on the ground holding a bloody nose. Rukia and Byakuya watch in shock as Ichigo storms off into the house, steaming all the way as though he could explode any moment.

"Maybe it would be best to let him cool off before I take him to see Yamamoto," the raven haired noble murmurs.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with that," Rukia offers in shock.

Ichigo sits in his favorite spot by the koi pond within the Kuchiki gardens, the one place he can always relax and think over the day's events in peace. He misses Grimmjow, he didn't think it would hurt this bad. He misses his strong arms around him, his hard chest beneath him as he uses it for a pillow, and that annoying but contagious laugh that borders arrogance. Byakuya is just stepping onto the wrap around porch when Ichigo busts up bawling, whimpering the name of his mate as he wipes his flooded eyes with the sleeve of his shihakusho.

"… Ichigo, I know you miss him," Byakuya says softly as he takes a seat to hold the crying orangette. "But you must know that both your lives will be in danger should you stay with him."

"I don't… want… t-to stay… awake… w-without him!" he sobs.

"I know, but you must. Don't let this get you down, there are plenty of mates out there to choose from."

"You don't… have… one," he says through tears and sniffles.

"No… I don't. Hisana was special to me, she called to me," Byakuya sighs. "I couldn't find another that made me feel like she did, it just seemed pointless to mate for anything but that feeling."

"I… called f-for… Grimm," the small teen in his arms whimpers.

Byakuya can say nothing more to that, shock taking his mind by storm. To think that such a vulgar and unrefined creature should take that special place in his little Ichigo's innocent heart through an act of fate! Yamamoto had assured him Grimmjow was manipulating Ichigo through words and actions, making the boy think he harbors a feeling he's never felt to know the difference… perhaps he was wrong. Before Ichigo had grew of mating age, he and Grimmjow were devoted enemies and rivals. There was no force in any plain that could hold them apart when they saw one another, no force that could stop the all out violent brawl that would ensue… they probably should've known it would turn to love when Ichigo grew of age, it was inevitable. Byakuya, himself, has seen that many times before. Ikkaku and Yumichika, for instance, or even Rukia and Renji.

"Ichigo, I want you to stay here, okay?" he says softly. "I must go see Yamamoto, but you need rest and time to relax… get your head on straight. Does that sound good?"

Ichigo nods, letting go of his 'nii-sama' in favor of watching the koi pond again. Byakuya lets his gaze fall over his youngest charge as he reaches the gate, sending him a contemplative look before walking away with a purposeful stride. He needs some answers and he's no so sure he wants to hand Ichigo over to Yamamoto without them.

Grimmjow is tearing through the streets of Karakura, two of his clan flying overhead as they chase him down. He was careless, running out of the mansion and into the forest without concealing himself in a form they don't know, and now he's paying for it. Another crescent blade is hurled at him, biting into his calf and causing him to stumble, before the chain it's attached to swing it back up to it's owner.

"Damn it, Nnoitra!" he shouts. "I don't have him! The Shinigami do!"

"We were told to bring either him or you back to Aizen," the Espada with long black hair calls. "And if we're to bring you… you have to be incapacitated. Aizen knows what a wildcat you are!"

"Oh, ha, ha!" Grimmjow snaps sarcastically. "You're so fucking funny!"

Another blade and he ducks quickly to avoid it, slipping into a narrower alleyway. It's a gamble, as there's less room to dodge, but Nnoitra's blades are large and they'll have difficulty maneuvering in small spaces. He hears the loud curse from the man with the eye patch he used to call his comrade, but a spark of light cutting his right cheek halts him immediately. That was a warning shot, Stark is deadly with his guns and they don't shoot bullets… they shoot a searing light. He could kill Grimmjow in a heartbeat no matter how small the space or how much room the teal haired male has to dodge. He slowly turns to see the male with wavy brown hair to his shoulders, he's standing at the end of the alleyway as Nnoitra looks down on them from the rooftops.

"Please stop running, I'm too tired to chase you," the lazy man drawls.

"Come on, Stark, I don't have him," Grimmjow pleads. "I know someone who can help me get him back! Please, just let me go. I have to find him, please!"

"I can't."

"What if it was Hall?" he snaps. "What if someone took her and Aizen told us to capture you? What would you do?"

"… I would kill you," Stark says coolly. "Seeing as you're not strong enough to do the same to me, I suggest you come along quietly and hope Aizen is in a forgiving mood."

"Please," he says quietly, almost desperately. "Ichigo is everything to me… please."

"I'm sorry, old friend," Stark sighs. "I can't let you go."

"Then… I'm sorry, too. I hope you're in a forgiving mood," Grimmjow sighs.