Ai-Chan: I am back. Yes, people, I am alive and well.

Grell: What took you so long?

Ai-Chan: School. Now, this chappie gets really heated and there's violence. Not the good guys vs bad guys violence.

Grell: Do I get to kick butt?

Ai-Chan: Sorry, no. There's a lot of abuse in here. I'm sorry, Grell. Don't worry, it gets better. Just not until the next chapter...

Disclaimer: I don't own the charas, and this is non-profit whatsoever.

****Warning: There's physical, verbal, and emotional abuse going on. I DO NOT condone abuse in relationships of any kind (family, dating, marriage, etc.) at all. If you are or know of anyone being abused speak up, and get help.*****

We walked back into the office after breakfast, ready to start a new day filled with paperwork and reaping. I opened the door to my office and stopped dead in my tracks. In front of me stood the one person I had hoped never to see again in my entire existence.

In my office stood the most insufferable prick I the shinigami realm. This pompous, sorry excuse of a man dared to tear my heart to shreds and drop me like a whore, yet he's standing in front of me looking innocent.

"Jaques."

"Hello, Grell."

"What do you want?"

"My. My. Is that any way to treat a guest?"

"You're an unwelcomed guest, Jaques."

"Oh? Is that so? I thought you'd be happy to see me again, my dear."

"Cut the bullshit and answer my question. Why. Are. You. Here?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here for you."

Jaques walked up to me, and my hand on the doorknob tightened. He kept solid eye contact, while attempting to corner me. He brought his hand up to caress my cheek, and that's when I panicked.

"Don't touch me," I slapped his hand away.

"Hmm? I thought you liked my caresses."

"You call caressing a punch in the face? And what, pray tell, made you think I would be happy to see you after all this time?"

Jaques stayed silent, as if contemplating what he would say next. Too bad for him, I'm not the same helpless brat from back then. I know all of his tricks. I've realized how much of a jerk he is. And yes, he is so much worse than Sebastian.

"I know it was wrong of me to lay my hands on you before, but I've changed, Grell. I regret what happened those years ago, and honestly, I don't blame you for doing what you did. I came to apologize, and I hope you'll give me a second chance. I'm sorry, Grell."

"*Sigh* If I didn't know any better, I'd forgive you and run straight into your arms, but I'm not the same gullible boy I was then. I know how your kind works. You go around making every girl, or boy, swoon, telling them the sweet words they would love to hear. And then, what? Hm? You treat them like shit. You build up their confidence just to tear them apart later. You tell them they'll never be good enough, and you're the best they'll ever manage. You beat them when they so much as look away from you.

"Accuse them of cheating, when you've been sleeping with others behind their back. What for? All because you realize everything you tell them is true about yourself. You rejoice in the thought of being wanted, even if that want is completely out of fear. You want to be superior because at some point in your measly little life, you were the one who felt inferior. You were the one being put down no matter what you did. I'm sorry Jaques, but I can't forgive you for what you did. I won't go back to you, ever. I've moved on, and this time for the better."

I saw a flash of shock cross Jaques' face before he snapped.

"Why you little-" He lunged straight at me, grabbing a paperweight off my desk. I barely had time to act before throwing myself to the side to avoid being hit. Unfortunately my hair flew behind me, and Jaques managed to get a hold of it. I struggled, but it only made him tighten his grip.

"How dare you. After everything I did for you?"

"You never did anything for me. You hit me every chance you got, even going as far as locking me up for days without food."

"I did it for your own good. You had to learn your lesson. Thinking about a shinigami who never even spared you a second glance," He threw me against the desk, before grabbing hold of my hair once again.

"I was there for you when he flat out rejected you the first time. You were a fool for thinking he would accept you the second time. How did you repay me, Grell? Huh? Oh yes, you tried to drown me! Did you really think you would get away with it? Did you?!"

"I was prepared to accept my punishment for killing you! I may not have achieved that, but I at least got rid of you long enough to recover. I was lucky my friend's father is an important diplomat, otherwise I'd be rotting in a prison cell."

At this point every tear of pain I had been holding back since that time was flowing down my face. I couldn't stop them, but I certainly didn't intend to. Jaques brought up the paperweight. The look in his eyes screamed murder. Just as he was about to bring it down on my face, the door slammed open, and I gasped.

"William!"

Grell: WHY?!

Ai-Chan: It's crucial to the story, and I apologize for making it so bitter.

Grell: I better not have any bruises.

Ai-Chan: You won't. Your skin is, and will stay, flawless.

***Review please. And if you guys can guess what movie I alluded to in a very odd and completely backwards way, I'll write a one-shot of your choice. It might be a bit hard, so here's a hint: Jaques is the French equivalent to Jack.***