I'm so sorry guys, I've been really lazy and there's no excuse, but right now, I'm taking a pause on A Flaw in the Glass and Hollow, and I've started on this new fic instead. And I'm also sorry for deleting my story Meet First Son and Snow Child, I'm planning to continue that when I've finished all my other stories. Sorry! I know, there's no excuse, I'm just really irresponsible.

Now, on another note, I'm typing this story to try and preach out to those poor children and people out there that have to be forced into these conditions like this, and I don't mean to offend anyone in ANY WAY at ALL. I'm really sorry if it DOES offend someone, but I AM trying not to. This story contains NO LEMONS OR LIME OR CITRUS OR WHATEVER SOUR FRUIT THERE IS OUT THERE. Though it does hold strong, mature themes, that's it. NO LEMON

Thank you, and enjoy the story :)

Rukia-

The cold, crisp air of autumn began to bite away at her skin, gnawing at her soft, revealed flesh and whipping at her face. Her cold, white puffs of air that left her mouth clouded around her, the thin scarf at her neck doing nothing much to warm her corset-covered body. Or rather, her barely covered body. She wrapped her coat tighter around her frame and stood by the street lamp that illuminated around 3 metres away into the dark street.

The winds began to pick up and she shivered in her leather, laced boots and her brown, leather-laced corset. Damn the bastard who was meant to pick her up 1 hour ago.

"Fuck him, he can fuck himself tonight if he doesn't come," came the harsh mutter of Rukia. She shifted weight between her feet in a small attempt to keep warm. The nicely lit neighbourhood was apparently called Karakura Town, not Karakura Slums, the place she was used to. It was rather nice and calm at 3 in the morning, whereas in her side of Karakura, you could hear whores moaning on the street and gunshots at a distance. The houses weren't dilapidated and moldy, and were painted nicely, the alleyways nowhere near dirty or filthy with used condoms littering the streets.

Rukia kicked at a rock or two on the curb she was standing on and glanced left or right for any sign of a car. She swore in relief when she finally saw a black Mercedes stop right in front of her with tinted windows. She was about to smile the fake smile that never reached her eyes and open the car door until she realized the window was rolling down, preventing her from bending all the way to open the expensive car. The back seat held an old granny that was giving her the dirtiest look she had ever seen on a grandma. Bending at that angle, the old woman could probably see her boobs, but Rukia could care less.

She didn't have a choice in what she did in her life anyway.

Dressed in a guy's spare button up blue striped shirt and black pants that looked like they were 5 sizes too big for her, she walked into public with an innocent smile on her face, prepared to take a 4 hour long walk in thongs and a bag with her 'previous night's clothes' inside. Rukia strode down the streets of Karakura Town and smiled proudly. She had today off, and she was able to spend it in the best part of Karakura ever. The streets were clean, people were happy, and no one tried to grab her every 5 seconds.

Her innocent looking satchel bag that swung at her side bounced at every step she took, the contents on the inside worth a million glares and dirties sent her way, should it be opened. She was glad no one cared what she was doing for once. Last night was the same as always. A drunken lame ass trying to hit on her at every moment and giving her the worst night of sex she had ever had. Actually, there were worse in her history, but she preferred not to ponder on those.

She stopped and stared at the window of a shop that modeled clothing that actually covered past mid-thigh. Rukia's interest perked up as she studied this fashion. She smiled and leaned back up from staring at the glass and continued to window shop. The shops here were really different too. It was rare for Rukia to come to this town at all. With her job keeping her up all night, and her life being so miserable, she couldn't find the time at all. But last night kept her up, and she couldn't sleep, so she took the opportunity to explore. Who knew there was a bastard in this town anyway?

She continued to hum to herself a tune she had found in her memories and walked along, smiling at people who stared back and laughing gently at the small, amazing trinkets she saw. She began to unconsciously finger the locket at her neck and her smile dropped, her eyes becoming cloudy with a memory from so long ago. She straightened up and began to rummage through her bag carefully, so not to reveal the contents inside. She grabbed her mobile that was old and second handed (or used a thousand times), and began to type in the number she remembered off by heart.

The ringing alerted her that her best friend wasn't busy, and she cupped her mouth in an attempt to cover the sobs that began to shake from her mouth. Her eyes began to water and many people threw her sympathetic looks. Her whole body shook and her heart began to fall at each dial tone she heard. Her heart was raised when a voice on the other side picked up.

"Hello?"

"Renji?" Rukia gasped through the phone. He began to panic.

"Rukia?! What's wrong?! What's the matter?!"

"Just come… pick me up, ok? Please come…" she sobbed. "K-Karakura Town… in front of the shopping district… Renji?"

"Yea?" came the hurried voice of her best friend, the shuffling of walking heard in the background, along with the slamming of the car door.

"Please hurry."

I had a family once. We used to be a happy family.

…

I had a family once. We used to live in Karakura Town.

…

I had a family once. We loved each other so much.

…

I had a family once.

…

That once was long ago.

Rukia opened her eyes and found herself back at the rundown apartment she lived in. She slept on her side, her trembling hands clutching the white fabric beneath her. The cracks in her ceiling and walls ran from one side to the other. Some time during the night, her locket had opened. She shut it with a resentful clack and closed her eyes tightly.

"Rukia, we love you so dearly."

Lies.

"Rukia, we treasure you from the bottom of our hearts."

All Lies.

"Rukia, never forget us, okay?"

Who gave you the right to forget me?!

"Rukia, we love you."

Liar.

She sat up from her tossed up sheets and checked the time on her alarm clock, blinking the sleep out of her eyes.

2 pm.

Not much time was wasted. Rukia stood up and stripped down to nothing, stepping into the bathroom right next to her room. She observed her heavily bruised back in the cracked mirror and frowned. She sighed and turned on the tap to the shower, the hot spray running over her and stinging all over. But she didn't care.

The physical pain was nothing compared to what she was through.

Once the hot water began to run out, she turned the tap off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around her being and wrapping her hair in a hand towel like a spiral on her head. She walked out of the bathroom and dropped both towels. She slipped on her underwear and a large t-shirt that covered up to the middle of her thighs. She smiled when she realized Renji fell asleep on her couch, his arms crossed and his head bent and his face creased into a frown. He must've been worried.

Rukia tiptoed past him and into the shabby, cracked kitchen to see what was in the fridge. She opened it and a small jab of pain entered her chest when she realized she would have to go foodless again today. She didn't get paid until tomorrow, which was a Sunday. She closed the fridge with empty spirits and looked at Renji.

"Sorry buddy," she murmured to herself. "I can't give you any food this time either." He began to stir from the couch and yawned, rubbing his eyes afterwards. He looked left and right and turned around to see Rukia leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. He replied with one of his own and stood up, stretching.

"So, eaten breakfast or lunch yet?" he asked, twisting his back left and right.

"Yea," Rukia lied through her teeth easily. He stopped stretching and sent a glare her way.

"Don't lie to me," he deadpanned.

"How do you know I'm lying?" she countered back. He walked up to her and stared down, her head barely reaching his neck.

"I checked your fridge."

Silence whispered in the small gap between the two and begged to be broken. Rukia huffed and crossed her arms, looking away with a pissed face on.

"So… where do you want to go for lunch?" he asked with a smile on his face, twirling his car keys with his finger. Rukia snapped at him with her arms still crossed.

"No where. You are not taking me out to eat again!"

"I'll take a beef hamburger please," Rukia told the expecting waiter. He raised his head from the small notepad in his hands and looked at the two.

"Anything else?" he said greedily. Renji shook his head and waved him off, turning to Rukia. The short, fat and greasy man scuttled away and Rukia avoided looking at Renji's eyes.

"So… how's work for you?" Rukia chuckled nervously. He, at least, lived in the better part of the slums. The part where drunkards and poor bastards lived. Where Rukia lived, was worse than them by a thousand times.

"Meh, it's keeping me alive," he shrugged, looking at Rukia directly.

"And me," she muttered bitterly. He sighed in exasperation.

"Don't start this again."

"I told you, I don't need your help!" she scolded.

"Come on Rukia, if you were me, you'd do the exact same! Look out for me!"

"Well I'm a fucking whore, no one cares about how I feel, so why should you?!"

"Because I do! Because we've been friends since the age of 10! Because we look OUT FOR EACH OTHER!"

"THERE'S NO POINT TO LOOKING AFTER ME, I'M JUST A SLUT ANYWAY!" she screamed back. Renji slapped her and she remained silent.

"Don't you dare start this again, Ichimaru Rukia."

Rukia bit the inside of her cheek and closed her eyes tightly to stop the tears from flowing, nursing her red and stinging cheek.

Born in the slums, and then raised in the slums. Wasn't that what people said?

Try born as the rich, then dumped for the poor. That sounded much better to the ears of Ichimaru Rukia. Abandoned at the age of 5, and adopted at the age of 6, Rukia could only remember her life in the slums. She was abandoned from her old family called who knows what, and was found in the streets by Ichimaru Gin one year later. She was so grateful for the man who seemed fox like and happy all the time, but he was the turn in her life that she had taken for the worst.

She remembered so clearly, the one night where everything came crashing down. She was following Ichimaru Gin around the house, when finally, she was brave enough to voice out her thoughts.

"Ichimaru-sama… Since you have adopted me, what am I to you? A daughter? A niece? A sister?"

It was at that moment, Gin's smile had no longer been happy and cheerful. It was at that moment, his smile had become sinister, and his eyes had opened a slit.

"You can be the little doggy of the family, ok?"

"Ok!"

She had thought back then, that this was merely a game.

She never realized she had lost ever since she had begun.

She remained silent in the shadows, wearing a flimsy pink dress that barely hung on by two thin straps, and flared out from the waist, swirling around to reveal her underwear much too often. She watched quietly as her two bosses handed out the drugs to the customers and watched the money exchange. She watched in envy as the large stacks of money were just passed into Aizen and Ichimaru's hands. Oh how she longed for that money. But all her money was passed on to Ichimaru, he only paid her 25 a week.

She earned around a 100, or 500 a night with any man that wanted her, and yet, she only received 25. One of the sleazy customers spotted her in the corner and grinned toothily.

"How much for the girl?" he slurred out. The white haired drug dealer smiled even wider and began to wring his hands together.

"350 for a night."

"300."

"325."

"Deal."

Rukia held in a witty comment. She hated being auctioned off like that. She took a deep breath and put on the most seductive face she could muster.

"I'm yours for the night, but don't be too harsh on me," she whispered in his ear. The fat man's eyes glittered with delight and he immediately grabbed her ass and started grinding up against her. She held in a kick to his groin and smiled a grimace Aizen Sousuke and Ichimaru Gin could clearly see. She walked off with the fat man and glanced in the alleyway one last time, and glared when she saw Ichimaru waving happily.

"Bye bye!"

This was just another one of those nights.

So again, why should she care?

She didn't have a choice in what she did in her life anyway.

Ichigo-

Coffee…

Had never tasted so shit in his life.

Ichigo grimaced and spat his coffee back into his cup without anyone else knowing and chucked the cup away. God, night shifts sucked. He walked at a brisk pace and nodded his head in return for the greetings sent his way. He shoved his hand in his pocket past his white coat and scowled when no one was looking. He paused in his steps when he heard a thundering noise that rivaled the weight of a hippo. He held his arm out and successfully choked a 24-year-old Asano Keigo. He choked and sputtered as he fell slowly. Ichigo looked down with a raised brow and a smirk.

"Morning to you too, Keigo."

"M-mornin'…" the man on the floor rasped. Ichigo walked off at a faster pace to be able to get to his car before any of his colleagues could-

"Oi, Ichigo! We're heading down to the Kyouka Suigetsu! Wanna come?"

Ask that.

Ichigo drew in a deep breath and turned around to face Mizuiro with a grimace that tried to convert into a smile.

"No, I rather wouldn't go down to the Karakura shitty slums just to hang out with some skanks and have one night stands-" his mouth dropped and his eyes widened, his finger pointing at the two men next to Mizuiro.

"I-I-I-I-I-Ishida?!?!?!? Chad!?!!?!?!?" Ichigo bellowed. The two of them sported red cheeks and looked away from Ichigo. Mizuiro smiled cheekily.

"See, even these two have the balls to come. And you don't? That's such a disappointment," Mizuiro said lightly. Ichigo's eyebrow twitched occasionally. I will not give in to his reverse psychology. That shit doesn't work on me, that shit doesn't-

Ishida began to speak, breaking his mantra.

"Honestly, you'd think that Kurosaki was man enough to handle it, but it looks like he can't even stand to look at a woman. There is the possibility to consider that he is gay-"

"I'M GOING!"

Oh why oh why was Kurosaki Ichigo so stupid?

He grumbled to himself in front of the long, body length mirror as he tightened his black belt over his long, baggy jeans and fixed the collar to his dark red button up shirt that was rolled up at the elbows. He checked the clock in the corner of his neatly decorated room and sighed. Living in this expensive apartment had its ups and downs. It was easy to go down, sliding on the banisters was fun. It was hard to go up, steps were NOT fun. It was then after 6 years of living and half of that time spent searching, he realized there was an elevator to this damn building. And by then, he was too used to the stairs.

When his doorbell rang and he heard the noisy yelling and banging of Keigo, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed loudly.

He opened it and glared down at the fallen Keigo that was on his chest right now. Apparently, from the sounds Ichigo could hear, he was trying to be a battering ram. Chad would've made a much better job.

"Hey Ichigo," came the muffled voice of Keigo. He raised a hand in salute slowly. Ichigo stepped backwards and watched the man fall forward, face first in content. Ichigo stepped over the body with the bleeding nose and began to close his apartment door.

"Let's go."

"ICHIGO!!!!" the man wailed.

The three men beside Mizuiro and Keigo had gone far past the shade of tomato red. While Keigo was wasted, Mizuiro was flirting, and Chad, Uryuu and Ichigo were horrified, 4 strippers danced in front of them with poles, scantily clad in bikinis and panties. Ichigo mustered up as much courage as he could and held a fierce glare for the girls to turn away from him. They all giggled at the bright red hue he had on his face and dragged the other four men off. Ichigo sighed in relief and laughed at Uryuu's face. Chad began to run for the door and Keigo was happy to be laid tonight. And Mizuiro was still using his womanly charms.

Typical.

Ichigo looked down at his half drunk martini and began to down the rest of it.

God, what was he doing in a hellhole like this?

He beckoned for the maid-dressed waiter with the huge boobs to come over.

"Yes, how may I help you?" the woman said cheerfully, bouncing her boobs on purpose. Ichigo wrinkled his nose in disgust tried his best not to throw up the contents of his not so healthy dinner.

"I'd like a cocktail please," he said bluntly. The waitress nodded and walked over to the bar with her 5-inch high heels. Ichigo leaned out of his seat and watched in horror, the tall shoes that would eventually be her death.

"Were you just staring at her ass?

Ichigo looked up from his position leaning across the couch and stared at a red head guy that was raising a brow at him. Ichigo blushed furiously and the bartender immediately knew this was his first time.

"N-no!" Ichigo backfired. "I-It's just… I… Women…" he trailed off. The bartender sat down beside him in his black vest and bow tie glory, facing Ichigo to show he was listening. "How do women walk in those ankle-breakers?!" Ichigo blurted out. The man next to him chuckled.

"You wouldn't believe the things they would be able to do with those shoes…"

Ichigo laughed nervously and began to sip at his cocktail that arrived in the midst of their talking. Renji raised his hand to one of the passing bartenders.

"Oi, Hisagi, grab me a gin and tonic, would ya?"

"Get up you lazy fucktard and get it yourself Abarai," the man bit back in a joking manner. The red head next to Ichigo laughed and stood up, turning around to face the newbie again.

"So I didn't quite catch your name, newbie."

"Ichigo. Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo introduced, reaching across to shake hands with the standing man. The man flashed a grin at him, his tribal tattoos that were hidden by a bandana on his head flicking upward.

"Abarai Renji at your service. If you need anything, just call, okay?" Ichigo nodded and smiled at the man one last time before turning back to his drink. He looked around himself and remembered his current whereabouts, looking back down.

God, what was he doing in a hellhole like this?

You're Different –

"Well… I have good news and bad news…" the sly voice of Ichimaru began. He sat in a large, leather business chair with his hands intertwined and his sly grin hiding behind those hands that were propped on the table by his elbows. Rukia sat across him in a brown, leather chair and swallowed deeply.

"What's the bad news?" she said stoically, trying her best to keep up her wall of ice. Ichimaru spread out some papers in front of him on the desk and observed them one last time with his eyes that were somehow not open.

"Well, ya have no customers tonight," he began, skimming through the timetable for that week. Rukia's heart skipped a beat.

YES!

"Which means no payment for ya," Ichimaru continued, smiling brightly at her.

NO!

"Wait, what's the good news?" Rukia panicked.

"Well, the good news is that ya have free time today!" he said happily.

Bastard.

"But, Ichimaru-sama, I need the money for rent and food," Rukia began. Ichimaru started to ponder this and looked thoughtful about it.

"Ok then, if ya're that desperate."

She had stumbled in with a crash, and landed on the cold, black tile floor. Some people that knew her from working in the bar stared in shock, about to go to help her until they noticed a fine man dressed in a beige coat, black dress pants and black polished shoes walk towards her.

No one messed with Ichimaru Gin or Aizen Sousuke.

"Since ya have none tonight, pick a guy up today here. There are a lotta drunks, so knock ya self out, ok? Or rather, knock someone else up too, ne, Rukia-chan?" He smiled down at her one last time and walked out. The disco lights that shone brightly around Rukia allowed her to recognize her whereabouts.

Kyouka Suigetsu… Rukia thought in detest. She stood up and wobbled over to the bar place, and got bombarded with questions concerning her health. She waved them all off and ordered a cocktail. She sighed and began to scan the room for any free men.

Well I'm here, might as well make money while I'm at it. Glad I took my birth control pills before too.

She almost smirked in success and stumbled over to a man sitting alone in a red, cushion couch booth. He was cute anyway. She pretended to be drunk and fell down into his lap, her stomach on his legs. He stiffened immediately at the scantily clad woman on his lap. She looked up with the most largest, beautiful doe-like eyes he had ever seen, the greatest shade of a sapphire amethyst.

"Hi there, sorry, I kinda fell," she mumbled shyly, something she had rehearsed so many times. The man beneath her stumbled his words.

"U-uh, it's ok…" he muttered under his breath, almost silently. The girl on his lap giggled and sat up, her legs straddling each side of him, her lithe body pressing against his hard one.

"So, are you here for a fun night?" she whispered seductively in his ear, her arms wrapped around his neck and her breath fanning his face. Ichigo leaned back uncomfortably and raised his hands in surrender.

"Um… U-uh, I, uh, no, I uh, um… no!" he stuttered, his face bright red. Rukia sighed in relief and rolled off of him, onto the booth.

"Thank god, I'm not in the mood for sex right now," the woman breathed out. She raised a hand and ordered two cocktails. She passed one to the man beside her and began to down her own drink. Ichigo raised a brow.

"Um… Excuse me…" he began. The woman next to him raised a brow in return and turned to him.

"Yea, what's up?"

"Um… You don't know who I am, and you want to knock me up?" he asked with a slight tinge of pink on his cheek. Rukia chuckled bitterly and returned to her drink, throwing her head back to have it all down in one gulp. She looked back at him with an expectant look.

"You're in a strip club, every single guy in here get laid for the whole night. To be honest, I think you're the first person that hasn't been laid in this club," she explained, turning back to her drink and nibbling on the edge of the glass.

"Well, uh, thank you?" he mumbled, unsure of what to say in return to the compliment.

"Which must mean you're stupid," she deadpanned, turning back to face him. He raised a brow and slowly turned his body so that he faced her properly.

"Excuse me?" he asked in disbelief. Her elbows were propped forward on the table, one of the hands delicately holding her glass.

"I mean, come on, you're still a virgin, aren't you?" she mocked. He began to stutter again and turn red.

"I, well, I, um, no!"

The girl beside him smirked and raised a brow. He took note that they were both raising brows a lot. Was this a challenge?

"Ok then, who was your first time with?" she purred.

"Uh, um… Arisawa Tatsuki!" he said triumphantly. Well no, he never got near her or her bed, heck, she made double sure he didn't like her! But a little lie wouldn't hurt. Especially when he was talking to a prostitute.

Wait…

Prostitute??

He was talking with a prostitute so casually??

"Well, your posture tells me you're fidgety, your eyes are unsure, and you're sweating and trembling at the same time. Those signs tell me that honey, you're lying," she said with a smirk, sipping at her newly refilled drink.

Damn, Ichigo thought furiously.

"Well screw you!" he shouted in defeat. He immediately regretted his words when her light and playful mood became dark, and her smirk became a bitter smile.

"That's my job, I might as well get screwed tonight…" she laughed bitterly. She stood up, prepared to leave until the man she had just met until his hand shot out and grabber her wrist. Her head snapped back at him in surprise, her eyes wide. He had a slight pink in his cheeks, his face determined.

"Wait…don't go."

For a single moment, in that time span, the thumping music in the background was lowered, and it was only the two of them, holding hands, their eyes locked on each other. Then, when Rukia realized what he had just said, reality came crashing back down, and the thumping music resumed its toll on vibrating their bodies with its hard bass. The next moment he realized what he was doing and looked up at her face to see her reaction.

Her eyes glittered in the dancing spotlights, her smile kind. Her soft, gentle hands intertwined with his fingers and he blushed again like a little schoolboy. His grip on her hand tightened. He opened his mouth to talk, but was stopped by a neatly manicured French tip finger. She leaned down close to his face.

"Your place?" she questioned, her breath fanning out on his face once again.

All he could do at that moment was nod.

"Ohhh, this feels so good!" Rukia moaned. Ichigo just nodded. He lost his voice ages ago. She stretched herself on the couch and laughed with the happy and comforting feeling that came with the homey house. Ichigo chucked his keys onto the side table near his door and turned the lights on. He threw his coat onto the couch and headed into the kitchen to sit down and think. He grabbed a notepad and pen and began to tap the end of it repeatedly on the notes.

He was a healthy, young 24-year-old man that had a prostitute at his house right now. So what the hell was she doing there again?

He sighed in aggravation and clutched his head in his hands. He nearly screamed in surprise when he felt gentle, cool hands come upon his shoulders and rub them gently.

"Something wrong?" came the cool, and collected voice of the prostitute he was thinking about. She began to massage his shoulders and he closed his eyes in pleasure. He groaned in relief and smiled unconsciously when she stopped.

"Thanks, I needed that," he said quietly. He rolled his shoulders and opened his eyes, only to scream and fall backwards. Her face was a centimetre away from his, scaring the shit out of him. She laughed gently and smiled down at the man on the tiles. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. He never took notice of what she was wearing, but now that he did, she was wearing a black, denim miniskirt, and a tight white tank top. She wore a black cardigan over it that stopped at her ribcage, and she had forgotten to take her knee high boots off, the chains on them glittering in the light.

She was bent over, and it appeared to Ichigo, she liked black underwear, and she was looking for food in his fridge.

"Um… What are you doing?" Ichigo questioned, his voice slightly accusing. She turned around and held the cutest expression he had ever seen on her. In her mouth was a packet of chips she must've grabbed from the pantry and in one arm, she held snacks and fruits. Her other hand reached for a soda can. She waved him off and stood up, shutting the door to the fridge.

"Oh don't worry, eating too much won't affect my performance in bed," she said light-heartedly.

"W-what?! I never said anything about having sex! I was just wondering why you're pillaging my kitchen!!" he yelled with a bright red blush, standing up. Rukia looked at him with a sly smile.

"Oh? You're still gonna have to pay me tonight then, even if there's no sex. I didn't come here for nothing."

"HUH?!"

"Hey…" came a light voice, prodding at a half dead body that was sprawled on the couch. Not to mention that the owner of the prodding was half dead herself.

She received a grunt in reply.

"We're so totally wasted…" she hiccupped. The dead body merely nodded. After Rukia's little snack attack, they began to empty out the contents of his beer cans and wine glasses. He opened an eye and looked at her from his end of the couch.

"So?" he groaned. She giggled and sat up from her end of the couch, crawling over his body and laying her head on his chest, his beating heart lulling her to sleep. She wrapped her arms around his torso, and was prepared to go to sleep until her eyes widened immediately, her body stiffening. His hand was beginning to stroke her thigh. She looked at his face and saw the drunken lust evident in his eyes. He smirked and leaned closer to her neck, nibbling at her most sensitive places.

"Show me what you got," he murmured.

That was all it took for them to stumble over to the bedroom and shut the door with a click.