Ichigo's P.O.V
"All right. Talk," I said. I was growing impatient with Love and as far as I can tell so was everyone else.
"Where to begin?" Love said scratching his cheek, "I guess I can start with Azien."
"What the hell does that bastard have to do with anything?" Ikakku asked. He was getting really irritated.
"Harley is a vizard, just like us," Kensei said. Everyone in the room stared at him wide eye, no one knew that Harley was a vizard not even me.
"But wait I thought that you eight were the only ones that survived Aziens hollowfication experiment," Rukia said.
"Yeah that's what we thought, too until the day we met Harley. It was back about 80 years ago or so we were all training because at first we didn't really know how to completely control our hollows. Harley came and introduced herself and explained to us who she was. At first none of us wanted to believe Harley or even trust what she was saying, that is until she showed us her hollow mask. Apparently Harley was Aziens first hollowfication test subject, he changed her on her 19th birthday, almost 200 years ago."
"Wait a minute how old is Harley?" Shuhei asked. Everyone was now staring at the vizards, Kisuke, Yourichi, Tessi, Jenta, and Ururu, waiting for them to explain. I mean, I knew that Harley was old, but I didn't know how old she was.
"Harley is 450 years old or so," Shinji said. The room grew even more quite, if that was even possible.
"Wow king looks like Harley is older than even I expected," Hichigo chuckled.
"Are you serious? She can't be that old," Renji said in disbelief.
"Yeah well she is so deal with it," Hyori said.
"Back to what I was saying," Love began again, "Harley taught all of us how to control our inner hollows and such. As we all grew closer and closer to Harley, we learned a lot of terrible things that had happened to her. Harley's father hated Harley, he hated her for being a girl. Harley's father wanted a son, but instead he got Harley. When Harley was born her mother had a lot of complications concluding to a c-section, which in the end caused Harley's mother the ability to never have kids again. Harley's father couldn't stand that, even though he loved his wife he hated women. For what reason I do not know, none of us know. Harley's father abused Harley's mother and Harley greatly, he even sexually abused Harley, thinking that maybe she could give him what he wanted, a son. One time Harley almost died because her father was beating on her mother so badly that he almost killed her and Harley got in the way, protecting her mother. Harley's family and Azien's family were neighbors, actually Harley's father and Azien's father were best friends. Harley's father worshipped Azien because he was a boy and he saw him as the son he could never have. Anyways, on Harleys 19th birthday they were celebrating it, little did Harley know that her father and Azien were planning something, Harley's hollowfication. Harley's father was researching it and asked Azien to help him in his studies, they didn't get too far though, not as far as Kisuke here. But they concluded that maybe there was a way to break the barrior between the soul reaper and the hollow within them. So Harley's father made Harley his first test subject, which succeeded I might add. They also used Harley's mother as one as well, but that didn't end too well. After they were done with their research they killed Harley's mother, and tried to kill Harley, but she was too powerful and got away. " Nobody said anything, I don't think that anybody could at this point.
"And that's why Harley never likes celebrating her birthday," Kensei added. Which now that we all think about it, it makes perfect sense. The last time we tried to get Harley to celebrate her birthday it ended up with her locking herself away for two weeks.
"Poor Harley she went through so much. I think I kind of get where she's coming from when it comes to not letting people in, especially guys," Hichigo said. I agreed with him, why would Harley take the time to trust a guy when the man she thought was her father betrayed her like that. I felt angry, sad, pathetic, and I felt sorry for Harley. Anger towards Azien and her father, sad because Harley has been through so much and I didn't even know and I always pushed her to open up to me, pathetic because even though I wasn't alive just yet I feel like I should have at least tried to understand, and sorry for Harley because she went through this all alone.
'Now I understand, Harley.' I thought. It wasn't just Grimmjow that had hurt Harley, it was her past as well.
Grimmjow's P.O.V
'I'm going to kill Azien,' I thought. I had come to Harley's house because I heard that she was back and I wanted to talk to her. But when I came everyone was here and I didn't want to just barge in, so I leaned against the side of her house, waiting for everyone to leave when I noticed Harley and that woman leave. I was going to go chase after them when I heard that guy with the silver hair and eyebrow piercing say they were going to explain Harley's past and shit. And I'm glad I did, now I know why Azien is so interested in Harley.
"You can't just barge into Azien's throne room and attack him, Grimmjow," my panther growled. I could feel the anger radiating from him, which means he wanted to kill Azien just as much as I did right now.
"I know that, idiot," I snapped.
"Then what do you plan on doing, Grimmjow?"
"I plan on killing the bastard, after I fix things with Harley."
"If she even lets you come near her. Remember Grimmjow, you're the one that hurt her and now we find out about her past. This means she has some major trust issues with guys and I think you might have lost the chance of Harley trusting you, ever." My panther might be right, I may have lost the chance of Harley ever trusting me, but I have to at least try, right? Maybe I should give her some time to settle down before I go and talk to her. I walked back to my house thinking that might be best. I mean I can't force her to forgive me, trust me or even listen to what I have to say. So maybe when she is calm enough she will give me that chance.
Harley's P.O.V
"Are you all right, Harley?" Lisa asked. Lisa and I were sitting at the café not far from my house.
"I don't know, Lisa. One, everyone is going to know about my past and pity me and you know I hate when people do that. I mean when you, Love, Rose, Kensei, Hachi, Hyori and Shinji did that it just made things worse. Two, it's almost my birthday and you know I'm not myself around this time of year when it comes. Three, my emotions and everything are still out of whack. And four… well… forget it." Lisa set down the magazine that she was reading and looked at me seriously.
"One, if they do that just explain to them how you feel about that, okay? Two, don't worry about your birthday I'm sure that everyone will understand how you feel about it. And lastly are you talking about that Grimmjow guy?"
"N-n-no," I stuttered. Lisa began to smile at me, which met I was caught. "Okay yes I am," I said defeated.
"Explain to me what happened with that, will you?" Lisa asked. I looked at her for some time before I started telling her everything that has happened. When I finished telling her she didn't say anything, she just looked at me worried.
"Say something, will you?"
"Harley, I'm sorry about what happened with Grimmjow, but now we know that he is like you."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, looking at her curiously.
"Well I'm talking about the part where Grimmjow said you smelled like Ichigo. I mean either he is a dog or he has the nose of a panther just like you. I mean come on Harley, panthers have some good senses, especially when it comes to scent," Lisa explained.
"You know she does have some point," my panther said.
"You're right she does, maybe we should talk to Grimmjow about it?" I suggested
"Yeah remember last time you asked him about it he totally blew you off." My panther was right, Grimmjow did avoid my curiosity completely when I had asked him about it.
"Do you think that Grimmjow being a panther could have anything to do with my emotions being out of whack?" I asked Lisa.
"Honestly I think it might. I mean if Grimmjow is a panther just like you, it could mean something. Actually now that I mention it we looked into some things about panthers. As you know panthers don't like to have a group, they like to be on their own mostly, except when they mate, they choose a mate and breed. But Love and I read something about panthers that doesn't seem to happen a lot, when a panther finds its soul mate. Apparently it rarely happens, but when it does happen it means that those two panthers only need and want each other, they don't want or need anyone else. And when I was reading more about it I started putting the pieces together. Harley everything that you have told me so far about Grimmjow and the way he makes you feel it sounds just like what me and Love found."
"So you're saying Grimmjow might be my soul mate?" I asked.
"Maybe," Lisa said, seriously. I sat back in my chair and rubbed my temples. I didn't want to believe it and I didn't know if I could. I mean, come on, Grimmjow and I, soul mates? Yeah right. "I know it seems hard to believe Harley, but maybe it's not true."
"And if it is?"
"Well then I guess you're stuck with Grimmjow for the rest of your life. So if it is true you're bringing him over to meet all of us," Lisa said, chuckling. I lay my head onto the table and sighed.
"Well it looks like we're going to have to talk to Grimmjow. Whether you want to or not," my panther said. I could tell that she was happy, probably happy about seeing Grimmjow again. Me on the other hand, wasn't so happy. He hurt me and chose my friend and even if I do want to see him I feel like he should at least suffer some more. "You're right maybe he should and he will," my panther said, laughing a little.
"And how is he going to suffer if it turns out that we are soul mates?" I asked.
"We will make him suffer, just trust me," my panther said, laughing. I hated it when she got ideas even though I must admit some of her ideas work.
"All right count me in, I guess."
"Hey guys." Both Lisa and I turned our heads and saw Kensei.
"Hey Kensei, are you guys done?" Lisa asked, opening her magazine again.
"Yeah we are," Kensei said he was looking at me worried.
"I can handle it Kensei," I said, standing up. I put my hand on top of his head and messed it up. He didn't hit me like he usually would though. "I'm serious Kensei, I'll be fine," I reassured him.
"Yeah." He turned around and started walking towards my house, Lisa and I followed. I didn't want to go back just yet, I didn't want to face everyone just yet. As we all walked into my house everyone was quite and staring at me with pity.
"Quit pitying me," I snapped. I didn't mean to snap, but I hated it when people looked at me like that, I couldn't stand it.
"Sorry," they all mumbled. I rolled my eyes and walked into my kitchen, I needed a drink. I wasn't the drinking type, but when I felt the need for one I become a drinker. And right now I really need one. I opened my cabinet where I kept all of my alcohol and grabbed the bottle of sake.
"Do you really need a drink so badly, Harley?" I turned around and faced Shuhei.
"Yeah, honestly I do. Do you want one?" I asked. Shuhei shook his head no, I shrugged my shoulders and got a glass and poured some sake in it. People knew when things got bad or something was seriously wrong that I would start to drink.
"I'm sorry for pushing you, Harley," Shuhei said. I took a drink and stared at him, "I shouldn't have always pushed you to tell me things and now I understand why. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you and if you ever do want to talk or something that I will be here for you."
"Thanks Shuhei," I said. I was happy that people understood where I was coming from with some things, but I felt upset that people are going to start and treat me different now that they know. I mean it took forever for the vizards, Kisuke and them to start treating me normal again. "Shuhei, do me a favor?" Shuhei looked at me and smiled. I could tell that Shuhei was forcing that smile on his face.
"Anything"
"Don't treat me different now that you know. Treat me like you always have, okay?" For a second Shuhei's smile faded, but it came back and this time it was a real smile not the forced one that he used just a second ago.
"Sure thing, Kitten," Shuhei laughed.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST CALL ME?" I yelled, I set down my drink and tried to punch him, but he caught my hand. I was expecting him to laugh but instead he pulled me into a hug. I tensed at first not knowing what to expect, but I relaxed.
"I won't treat you differently Harley, but you honestly can't expect me to treat you like I always have. I mean come on Harley your past was horrible and now I understand you a lot better then what I always had. I see you in a different view now, not in a bad way though. I know you don't want me to pity you because you told me once how you hated it when people pitied you over something sad. But I feel sorry for you, everyone does and everyone will, you can't stop that. Harley, you're a strong woman with an even stronger will and understanding but now in my eyes you've become even stronger. I mean if I were you and I went through all that I honestly would have probably put an end to myself or at least kept to myself never letting anyone close. But you, you overcome it in your own way and you picked yourself up and kept living," Shuhei said, I smiled at that.
"Thank you, Shuhei," I said. I felt him laugh.
"Anytime," he said. He pulled away and smiled at me. "Well I guess I should be going now. I will see you later." Shuhei kissed my forehead and walked back into the living room. I grabbed my drink and followed him. Everyone was getting ready to leave, but not before giving me a hug. The only person that didn't leave was Ichigo.
"It's getting late you know and you have school in the morning," I said to him.
"You're not going?"
"No Ichigo, I can't right now," I said, I walked over and sat down on the couch. Ichigo walked over and sat down next to me.
"We still have to talk you know," Ichigo said, looking over at me. "And you shouldn't be drinking," Ichigo grabbed my cup out of my hands and set it on the table next to him.
"I wanted that you know," I growled. Ichigo looked back at me and laughed. "We can talk another time, too," I said.
"No we need to talk now, Harley."Ichigo said, seriously.
'This is going to be a long night,' I thought.
