This chapter's a bit darker, but I suppose dark is necessary in light. By light of course, I mean FLUFF! R&R
Disclaimer: I don't own bleach
________________________________________________________________________
"Suzume." Quiet voices whispered in her skull, taunting and teasing her once again.
"Suzume, you're useless." They laughed, their voices ringing in her ears as she tried to block them out.
"Oh, you don't believe us? Then watch for yourself!" They cackled, forcing pictures into her head.
Oh no. She thought, Anything but this one. She begged to the void, her eyes watering behind their closed lids.
________________________________________________________________________
It was raining. This was not especially odd, considering that they lived in a country KNOWN for water, but still, it made her happy.
Inside, fire was crackling in the stone fireplace that stood on the far wall of their home. Suzume loved the fire as much as she loved the water, the two go hand in hand, or so she said. Of course, Suzume was not inside, enjoying the fire like any other child would on a rainy day that any other child would think boring and depressing. Oh no, she was outside, standing in the rain in her coat, looking at a turned piece of earth, or rather, what was growing out of the small plot of soil.
"KAA-SAN!" The 9 year old yelled, pointing to the small plot. "IT'S GROWING!" She yelled, her hand aimed towards the small miracle of leaves.
Her mother smiled from the inside of the house, looking out at her baby, standing in the middle of the rain, pointing at a small plant as if it had just asked to have a spot at the table that night. Of course, she thought, I doubt we could offer one anyway. The bill for their family was tight, but with the help of her husband, she found ways to get by. The fact that they didn't have a lot of money actually had a silver lining, and her name was Suzume. The little girl was so engrossed in everything around her, not in material goods, or food, but in nature. The fact that she grew a small vegetable plant, from a little seed that they found on the road on the way home, made her dance in the rain, as she did now.
That's it She thought as she hiked up her skirts, pulled open the door to their small home, and ran out, waltzing and tangoing her way to her daughter. The two preformed the box step, the leap frog, (one of Suzume's improvisations) and, of course, the tango. Tango was one of Suzume's absolute favorite dances, as it had been taught to her by her father. Said man had just returned from a long day down at the harbor, work as a porter was not easy in the least, and saw the two women in his life dancing in the back yard, both of them being soaked completely. He just had to cut in.
As she found herself being swept off her feet, and on to her father's broad shoulders, Suzume giggled at how her mother smiled tenderly, lovingly at her father. He danced with passion, and grace that her mother said had taken years to teach him. After all, she was the one who taught him how to dance.
After they had successfully celebrated the birth of Suzume's plant, the three of them sat by the fire and told stories. Stories about ghosts, pirates, damsels and knights, all of her favorite tales. After they had dried off, Suzume's mother put her to bed, tucking the blankets around the small girl, and kissing her forehead. Suzume hugged her mother and father and told them she loved them so.
It would be her last words to her parents
________________________________________________________________________
Back in the barracks of the castle guards, Grimmjow regarded the young women sleeping on his bed. After healing sufficiently, Unohana let her take residence with whomever she chose, and, with Grimmjow being one of the people she was comfortable around, had been her first choice. He, of course, took the couch, much to her displeasure, feeling guilty about running him out of his own bed. Now, he saw the black hair scattered around the girl's face as she mumbled to herself in her sleep.
It was then that Grimmjow saw tears sliding down her beautiful features, wetting her cheeks and dripping off her chin. His eyebrows furrowed, wondering what could possibly reduce such a strong woman as Suzume to tears. He then realized, he knew virtually nothing about the woman.
God, This woman is so confusing, but she's no pushover, I wonder if… He thought, and then mentally slapped himself for having such thoughts. It would never work he berated himself, but all these thoughts dispelled when Suzume started thrashing around in her sleep, the covers wrapping around her like a cocoon, bending but, never releasing.
Grimmjow flung off the covers he had used for his makeshift bed, his shirtless back gleaming from the moonlight that poured in from the window. The arrancar was at the bedside, one clothed leg kneeling on the carpet as he reached out for the young woman, hoping to comfort her from whatever nightmare plagued her.
________________________________________________________________________
Suzume remembered everything about that day, the first day of her torment. Waking up in that dark room, surrounded by strangers. She soon discovered that she had been taken from her home in the dead of night, and sold to a slave trader. She wondered what had happened to her parents, but didn't dare ask.
Everything from there was a blur. The slave market, her first "home". The woman who had bought her wanted a maid, a servant, so "home" isn't really the best term. After she had "used up her usefulness" she was sold to another owner, and the cycle repeated.
When she turned 18, she was sold to her latest and last owner. The fat brothel owner bought many young women, and sold them to anyone who came along. This was the fate that Suzume had to live with for two years, until her not-so knight came along. She had fought her owners, both with words and with her fists, but it had not been enough. She couldn't save her parents, she couldn't save herself.
But, She thought, her fists tightening, I will save the daughters of Urahara-sama. That, I can do. She thought, banishing the voices that still whispered and cackled as she woke with a start.
________________________________________________________________________
"Grimmjow?" She whispered, confused. His arms were draped around her, hugging her close.
Grimmjow recoiled immediately as she awoke, his arms dropping to his sides.
"Umm, err, sorry bout' that." He rambled, trying to defend himself, blushing madly.
She just smiled slightly, it was just a hug, she thought, and then moved towards him.
"Why did you stop?"
He looked at her, and then moved back towards his couch.
"Goodnight Grimmjow." She laughed.
"Night' Suzume." He whispered.
____________________________________________________________________
I, like every other respectable author (even of fan fiction), is open to advice. Since I noticed that I haven't been getting reviews for a while, I was really starting to get down in the dumps about my writing. Is it because my writings terrible? Or, maybe you just lost interest? Whatever it is, please tell me what I'm doing wrong. I don't write for reviews, but they really can support and inspire.
Now that I have that out of the way… COOKIES FOR EVERYONE BEACAUSE WE ALL NEED A COOKIE AT ONE POINT IN OUR LIVES!!!! COMFORT FOOD!!!!!
Also, I'm going to begin putting a poll like thing that you can vote about through you're reviews, yes, I know that I can put one on my profile, but I saw this in a fanfic once, and I want to try it. Now the first poll question will be in the next chapter, as I haven't thought it up yet. Ja Ne People.
-Twilight Symphony
