Change

Chapter 12

Hello again! I'm sorry to say this but if the last chapter was hard then this one is even worse. Just how the story goes I guess.

I won't hold you back longer so enjoy (And don't hate me!)

Six months passed since the breakup. The laughs that always came out of that apartment have disappeared into complete silence. The blue head left the world of the living and never returned, Ichigo stayed at the apartment for the sole purpose of staying away from people, especially his father who talked trash about Grimmjow non-stop.

He focused on his work, staying at his office fourteen hours a day, sometimes even longer, barely having something to eat through the day. He never was good at taking care of himself, it was the panther who always took care of him, making sure he is fed and well rested, but now that he was alone it didn't matter anymore.

He was walking back home, his mind blank and empty; his usual scowl in place longing for the moment to collapse on his bed and curl into a ball for the rest of the night so his mind would stop thinking. But a familiar voice stopped him making his scowl turn to the happy smile he gave his family and friends whenever they were around "Hey Tatsuki" He greeted the dark haired girl.

"Ichigo! Where have you been idiot I've been calling you for weeks" She exclaimed and pulled him to a tight hug. The ginger hugged her back but didn't let it last long "I'm sorry I've been really busy with work. How have you been?"

"I'm good, got more work load now that Grimmjow quit" she regretted those words the second they left her mouth, especially with the way his eyes widened in shock to hearing the last name he wanted to hear, a name he did everything he could to forget. She smiled nervously and tried to change the subject "So how are? How's work and life?"

"I'm fine just busy I guess" he repeated rubbing the back of his neck, waiting anxiously for this conversation to be over. "Did you hear anything from Grimmjow?" Now that it was out there might as well say what she had in mind. He shook his head making the girl sigh "Didn't he tell you why he left?"

"Just that he is tired of me" his anxiety was sky rocketing at this moment; he didn't want to think about him or about that night. Yet everyone around him kept forcing him to remember, bombarding him with questions about the panther.

The girls features turned thoughtful a bit before she spoke "I'm not gonna pester you about it, I know how painful a breakup could be. But I don't think that his reason for leaving because he was tired of you" That made Ichigo look up at her with a questioning look "The way he looked at you, It's one I rarely see between couples" She explained. "If I was in your place, I would go see him and demand an explanation. Take care Ichi" she waved at him before leaving and he smiled the same way again before dropping his act, his scowl in place until he reached the apartment, his scowl dropping letting exhaustion take over. He laid in bed trying to fall asleep but to no use, his cat joined him butt heading his face before she laid on his chest purring as she fell asleep.

She scratched her head as his mind wandered in thought, repeating the conversation he had with Tatsuki. He looked down at the cat again missing Grimmjow's hand that would be scratching her as well, he would intentionally cause friction between them and give him a teasing smile. That made his decision easier.

X_X

In Las Noches the panther wasn't in a much better situation than the ginger. He was either training or in his chamber denying to meet anyone except for Tia who barged in to force him on doing his duties.

She interrupted his training this time as well entering his quarters without permission, not that she needed it with her being the Queen "Letting out your anger again?" He rolled his eyes and continued to punch the sandbag "What do you want? I did everything you asked me to including training that wuss of an Arrancar" the blonde woman walked closer to him "I've never seen you so pent up before" She remarked.