Division Soko (Bleach Fanfiction Volume II)

Part One

The Urahara Shop

Grimmjow was silent and kept to himself and he couldn't bring himself to do anything. All he could do was think about Mae and what she could be doing and recalled the memories of her; his clearest memory of her replayed in his head.

Mae stood next to Orihime, Orihime entwined her fingers with Mae and held her collar in worry as Ichigo threw his zanpakuto to the ground and stopped Grimmjow, "Just leave it for now." But Grimmjow was stubborn and refused to leave the matter, "Never!" he swung Pantera forward but suddenly it felt like time stopped. Grimmjow was suddenly overcome by a sharp pain in his top left side from a scythe. Orihime gasped and Ichigo took a step back in shock. Mae flashstepped forward, "No!", and caught Grimmjow in her arms before he hit the ground. Nnoitora laughed, "You really are a sore loser."

Mae held Grimmjow in her arms; her clothes becoming stained with Grimmjow's blood but she did not care, she glared up at Nnoitora, "You." Nnoitora smirked at her.

Grimmjow weakly gripped Mae's kimono and buried his head in the crook of her neck.

Grimmjow sat on the porch of the Urahara Shop when he recognized the voices of Chad, Orihime and Ichigo become clearer. He looked up and met Ichigo's gaze but didn't say anything. "Hey Grimmjow, what's the matter?" Ichigo asked as he examined the Sexta Espada sitting in front of him.

"I'm gonna go inside and say hi to Ulquiorra." Orihime said softly with a smile before she disappeared inside with Chad trailing behind her with her bags in his hands. Grimmjow rose and took a step forward passed Ichigo but Ichigo stopped him, "Grimmjow wait..."

He debated if he should tell Grimmjow why Mae left, but he decided not to – that was something Mae was going to tell him on her own time.

"What do you want, Kurosaki?" Grimmjow asked, he kept his gaze ahead of him; didn't look at Ichigo or make any movement. "She'll come back." Ichigo said surely.

"How do you know that, Kurosaki? Mae left me and left her friends for what... a school? I don't believe it." Grimmjow said and turned to face Ichigo.

Ichigo could see the look of both anger and hurt in his eyes. "Look I'll admit it's not like Mae to leave the ones she loves behind. But she needs this." Ichigo said backing up his friend. Grimmjow turned away, "I'll see ye' around, Kurosaki." With that Grimmjow disappeared.

Ichigo sighed and went inside. He was almost pushed back outside by the intense hug Nel gave him, she yelled excitedly, "Ichi-g-o!" "Woah!" Ichigo caught his balance before returning the hug, "Hey Nel." Nel let go, "I'm so glad you're here."

"You are?" Ichigo looked confused. "She's always glad to see you." Tier rolled her eyes. She was standing against the wall with her arms crossed like she usually was.

They heard stomping footsteps and a rattle like somebody bumping a table with ornaments and Jinta ran into the room looking around frantically, "What is it?! Is it Mae?!" He was disappointed when he didn't see her around and rolled his eyes when he saw it was just Ichigo and went back to where he came from.

"I heard the name Mae." Tatsuki said as she came in also looking around frantically but was too disappointed. She was excited to see Ichigo though, she hugged him, "Hey."

Ichigo hugged her back and kept his arm around her when she let him go and stood by his side.

There was a quiet eeriness in the room and Kisuke walked in fanning himself as usual, "You guys make it seem like my daughter's name is taboo speak." "We just miss her that's all." Tatsuki said thinking back on the times with Mae. "I'm not." Tier mumbled under her breath.

Uryu walked in with Ururu trailing behind him, "Mae is a smart girl, too smart for a woman – she lacks the indefinable charm of weakness." Kisuke giggled at that. He knew his daughter got his side of the smarts.

"It would be nice to have Grimmjow back to his usual self." Nel said softly.

"Would it really?" Tatsuki asked Nel. Nel giggled, "Well, at least get him social again – he thinks too much and keeps too much to himself, it's not good for somebody to do that. I'm sure of it."

"It is said that passion makes one think in circles." Chad said from the sofa that he sat on. "Well put Chad." Kisuke said.