A/N: I'm actually just glad that I got response. :3 It wasn't much, but feedback is feedback to me. I thought this would be such an unsuccessful story.

Thank you all so much.

I hope you guys like this chapter.

Enjoy! :3

Tell myself on the ride home.

Getting tired, hating all I've known.

Holding on like it's all I have.

-Acceptance 'Different'

I practically begged not to go back to therapy.

I'm pretty sure I made myself look like a punk-bitch by spilling the beans about my past.

And if there's one thing I'm not, it's a punk-bitch.

How many punk-bitches do you know that got charged with aggravated assault at 16?

Anyways, I fought tooth and nail to stay away from that place. For a whole week and a half I avoided going. I knew I'd never get my 16 weeks done, but I seriously had no fucks to give about that. I didn't want Zaraki looking at me. He'd no doubt look at me that way. With pity in his eyes and say 'Oh, I'm so sorry.'

I don't need anyone's fucking pity.

I'm not helpless.

I don't need a fucking hug everytime I remember my past.

I just need to puke it out a bit and I'll be fine. That's how I handle my shit.

Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not bulimic or anything. I don't induce the shit.

It's just a natural cure for me.

And talking about it in fucking therapy won't solve anything.

So believe me when I say I'm pissed off that I'm here again.

When I'm called, I stand and head to Zaraki's office. He's filling shit out so I just silently slip inside.

"Sorry I'm late," I mumble then sit down.

"It's fine. I knew you'd be back," Zaraki replies knowingly. Smug bastard. There goes my temper already.

"I didn't want to come here, y'know!" I shout angrily. "I don't have a fucking choice!"

"Fucking chill, " He commands and keeps writing. "I know. It's court ordered." I calm down and sit back in my chair. "And I know why you're angry. You don't want me to pity you. Don't worry, I won't. That'll only make you go soft."

What is he now, a fucking psychic?

"Whatever," I respond. "Let's talk or whatever so I can get the hell out of here."

"Where do you have to go? There can't possibly be anything more important than this," he mocks me. "And why were you late?"

"Uh..."

Well, I wasn't going to tell him I was ditching for a week and a half.

C'mon, the dude looked like he'd snap me in half. If you saw Zaraki, you wouldn't even tell him you...stepped on an ant if it belonged to him. There'd be no saying 'there are so many other fucking ants!'

No.

He'd bust your lip if you fucked with his ant.

"Well?"

"Kisuke had me stocking some new stuff today," I lie.

"You have a job? Where do you work?" He pulls his notepad.

"This little shop called Phernalia," Zaraki raises an eyebrow at me. "Stupid, I know. It's just paraphernalia without the 'para.' It pisses me off. I've never asked Kisuke about it, though."

"Kisuke? Is that your boss?"

"Well, yes and no. Kisuke owns the place and I've lived there since I was 12. He and Yoruichi were appointed my legal guardians in court. But Yoruichi is more like my boss."

"Hm," he writes something else down and I assume it's their names. "Tell me about them. How did you meet?"

My eyebrows knit together as I think deeply. I have to choose my words carefully about them. They are in the small group of people who are special to me.

"Well, I met Yoruichi first, and she just...I don't know...She—She just sorta...found me...I guess."

When I ran away from home, I didn't stop.

As far as I was concerned, I'd make sure I'd never have a reason to ever look back.

I didn't have any friends, no attachments, nothing.

I didn't know how far I'd gone, I just knew I'd been pedaling nonstop for three days straight. I was tired, but my brain kept telling me that my father was seconds away from grabbing my hoodie and pulling me off my bike. And that made me pedal faster. I soon found myself in some shady town I'd never heard of.

It was worse than my old neighborhood.

And that was saying something.

My family lived in a small house that I now realize was a shack.

No wonder so many twisted fucks found the place.

Before I knew it, I was pushed off my bike by some older kids. They shoved me into a gross puddle and I didn't even try to stop them from taking it. I was still lost in my trance. I couldn't even see them because the rain and clouds were so thick. As the sky grew darker, I grew hungrier.

But there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.

I'd left home without food or money. And I had no idea where I was. Helpless and exhausted, I found the nearest alley and hid beside a dumpster. I wrapped my arms around my legs and buried my face in them.

I was so tired. I rested right there until morning.

Rested, not slept.

I never sleep.

I assumed no one saw me since no one fucked with me at all. When the rain had cleared up, I started walking, not in any particular direction though. After a few days, I noticed I had lost a few pounds. I'd been reduced to skin and bones. And that wasn't much less than I was as a scrawny pre-teen.

But I was hungry.

I hated the empty feeling.

I hated myself for feeling empty.

I hated...

I couldn't say it.

As easy as it should have been, I just couldn't say it.

At that point it should've been fucking easy to hate my parents.

I should've been able to want to murder them then dance on their graves.

Even though they were the ones who made me. Even though I'd depended on them ever since I could cry and shit on myself.

Is it easy to hate ones parents? I was never a spoiled kid who threw tantrums and 'hated' their parents because I didn't get my choice of cereal.

My parents didn't really give me a lot of choices anyway, if you get my drift.

You take what's coming to you.

That's the one lesson learned in my house.

But hey, they weren't totally strict, right? I mean, I got to pick the color of my bike.

Haha.

Though, I did want my father to die.

But I couldn't. I just couldn't bring myself to hate my mom.

Yeah, she had given into my sick shit of a father and solicited my body for money, but she loved me like I was still her precious gift from God.

I loved her even more because I was far from a gift.

I had been tainted. Defiled. I didn't think I was worth loving anymore.

But she did anyway.

My thoughts were so twisted.

I loved her so much, but I wanted to see her suffer severely for lying to me. She said she'd alway protect me.

No, I wasn't going to cry in an empty fucking alley.

Back to me being hungry.

I was on the verge of starvation.

So I made a plan.

First step: Steal a knife from a butcher's shop.

Almost got myself killed, but I had to do something.

Raw meat was no good to me, so I decided I'd start robbing people. The city I was in was a really nice one. The people there dressed like they were rich, so this place would be perfect. But I wasn't looking for money. I just wanted food. So I did what any smart food-mugger would. I headed to the nearest supermarket and waited.

Second step: Rob unsuspecting shopper on their way out.

It wasn't a very long wait.

A dark-skinned woman with long purple hair and an orange jogging suit came out of the store with a few bags in her hands. I licked my lips in anticipation. She didn't look much bigger than I was. My growth spurt hadn't hit yet, so I was still only about 4'10". When she got near enough, I approached her.

Now mind you, robbery victims are usually more scared of you than you are of them.

It was the other way around this go.

I held the knife out at her. She looked around then pointed at herself. I couldn't bring myself to talk. I didn't want to do this to this lady, but I wouldn't let myself starve to death.

"Boy, are you lost or something?" She asked then started laughing.

It must've been obvious I didn't know what I was doing.

I blushed angrily then ran at her. She quickly grabbed my arm and twisted it behind me. I screamed then fell to the moist ground. I hoped it was going to rain because I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I was so hungry and tired. And this lady would probably take me to the police.

They'd contact my parents.

I'd be sent back to them.

I couldn't let that happen.

"I'm sorry!" I sobbed underneath her.

"Hm?"

I surprised us both.

I don't talk. Ever.

I used to scream a lot. From...well, y'know. But one day I just stopped.

I just started letting it happen.

There was nothing I could do anyways.

No help would come.

The most noise I would make was an occasional squeak of pain that drowned in the sounds of my creaking bed, but even that stopped. Everyone assumed I had gone mute completely. I didn't even talk to myself.

But the truth was that I was afraid.

And in this moment, I was afraid to end up back home.

Gawd, I was a pussy 12-year-old.

"Please, don't take me to the police," I pleaded. My voice was gruff, but squeaky. Damn my developing vocal cords. I practically whispered I was so scared.

"Kid, I—"

"They'll send me home...I can't go home." She released my arm then stood up. I remained facing the ground. I couldn't look at her.

"Look, kid. I'm not going to call the police." I looked up at her, dumbfounded. Her golden eyes were glowing in the dim light of the retreating sun. There was something in them, but I couldn't put my finger on it. "Calling the cops would just be an inconvenience for me. I'll give you some advice instead, be a little smarter about picking your victims. The next person may not be as nice as I am." She was referring to the way she took me down. The next person could kill me if they wanted.

"Thank you," I blurted out. She deftly smacked my head and I held it.

"That's 'thank you, ma'am.'" She corrected me.

"Thank you, ma'am," I mumbled and rubbed the sore spot in my hair. She smiled. It looked warm.

Like it'd probably burn me.

"That's better." The lady swiftly picked up her grocery bags and walked to her car.

Well, that whole plan was fucked.

I sat unmoving on the pavement. The sky above me crackled and boomed loudly. It startled me. I'd have to find some cover before the rain started. I stood up and looked down at the knife I stole. I picked it up then walked in the opposite direction.

"Hey! Get rid of that knife and c'mon!" I turned around and the woman was waving at me to come over to her.

For some reason I listened.

She opened the passenger door and I just stood there looking at her.

The rain started out heavy.

"You slow or something? Get in!" I shook my head.

She was a stranger. I didn't know her.

This woman was batshit crazy if she thought I was getting in the car with her.

But I was foolish thinking I had a choice.

She grabbed my hand yanked me into the car, throwing the knife out the window and speeding away from the supermarket. I sneezed violently and remembered that I was soaking wet.

"We better get you somewhere dry," the lady spoke gently then turned on the heater. "What's your name?" I didn't respond. I didn't feel as scared as I did before, but I still didn't know this woman. "Do you live nearby?" Still no answer. I assumed she realized I wasn't talking because she finally shut up. But I was wrong. "I'm Yoruichi Shihouin. But you call me Yoruichi-san. A woman needs her respect, y'know." She laughed and kept driving. "Just tell me your name, kid. I'm not going to murder you."

I guess it wouldn't hurt.

"Grimmjow." I barely said it at all. But she heard me.

"Hm. That's a unique name. Is it foreign?" I just shrugged one shoulder. I still wasn't comfortable talking. "Have a last name?"

"Jaegerjaques."

"Whoa, that must be foreign. But, it's kinda cool! I like it."

Conversations are weird.

Why is she so talkative?

The car stopped and she opened her door.

"C'mon out."

She gestured for me to follow and I hesitantly did. We're at some small house and the lights are all out. Yoruichi knocked on the door and I heard a few sounds inside. A few lights turned on. Someone walked to the door. A tall man with disheveled shaggy blond hair answered.

"Yoruichi? What the hell are you doing here this late?" He asked in a laid back voice.

"I was out getting groceries and this one tried to rob me," Yoruichi replied simply. I looked to the ground in shame. "His name's Grimmjow. He needs a place to stay." I turned around and looked at her like she was crazy. Her face was completely serious though. I turned back to the man to deny what she'd said, but he looked like he was actually contemplating it.

These two were crazy.

I was a strange kid with no story and they were ready to just give me a place to stay.

"Alright." He waved for me to follow him and Yoruichi pushed me inside.

It was much bigger inside than I'd thought. There were shelves and racks everywhere, but I couldn't see them in the dark. We climbed a few stairs and entered another part of the place. This must've been a living space. A light flickered on to the side of me and we stopped. A boy stood near a sink holding a bottle. He had long red hair and surprisingly tattoos on his arms and forehead. On his arm was a small crying baby with a full head of the same thick crimson hair.

"What're you doing up, Renji?" Kisuke asked him.

"Jinta was crying," the boy responded. His eyes looked tired and he had dark circles under them like Kisuke's. I probably didn't look much better than they did.

"You want me to take him?" Renji's eyes drifted to me.

"No. I got him." Kisuke nodded then tapped my arm. We began walking again.

"So who're the kids?" Yoruichi asked as we walked.

"My sister's," he answered with a sigh. "She just left them at the door a few hours ago with no food or even a basket for the little one. I was lucky I had clothes for them and formula." Kisuke stopped and rubbed the back of his neck in a stressful way. "I thought she was doing better, but..."

"Kisuke. You need to sleep," Yoruichi said gently. She sounded concerned. "Let me take care of the boys. I'll let you rest."

"I don't sleep, you know that." My eyes widened.

He doesn't sleep either.

So maybe I'm not weird.

"I know. But just relax or something." She pushed him into a room then lead me to another. "C'mon, Grimm."

I stopped in my tracks.

"Don't call me that."

I probably sounded like a little asshole. But I don't care.

I don't like that.

"Okay." She doesn't question me. I'm glad. "You stay here. I'm going to find you some clothes and run you a bath. It's too late to eat, but I'll give you a little something then there'll be a big breakfast in the morning. Kay?" I nodded and she left.

The room I'm in is small, but I didn't really care. I was just glad to be inside. There was a small futon on the floor, I was almost tempted to collapse on it. There's one window. The moon is right in the middle of it. It soothes my body like the sun would. I sit down on the futon, and, for the first time in months...

I sleep.

A loud alarm goes off on Zaraki's desk.

It startles me out of my thoughts.

"What's that for?" I ask.

"It's for my break. Forget it. Keep talking," he insists. "Who's the Renji kid?"

His pen never left the paper he had.

I don't feel as bad about telling him more.

I can't tell if it feels good, or if my brain is betraying me and I'm actually fucking myself over.

"No. I have to go anyway. And...just to be sure...You can't tell anyone this, right? Not even the part about my parents?"

"Well...in the case of your parents, I'm supposed to report something like that to child services..." Anger boils up inside me. He lied. "But I'll only do it if you want me to."

The anger subsides.

Maybe I can trust this guy.

"Thanks. I just, need a break from court for a minute," I run my hand through my hair.

"Okay. Well, we'll continue this tomorrow?" Zaraki asks.

"Yeah."

"Wow, that was easy. Counseling has tamed you." He chuckles.

"Shut the fuck up."

Talking about Kisuke and Yoruichi always tames me.

They serve as a place holder for the parents I never really had.

So why wouldn't they.

Just to be clear, Grimmjow doesn't spill everything in his memories. Things like a crush or a first kiss, experiences that are important to him or even the traumatizing ones, he doesn't tell. When he tells Kenpachi his story, he doesn't go into full detail. Grimmjow just wouldn't do that. He tells as much as he needs to and stops there.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! The next one will be up soon!

R&R, please!

~EMAE