Ten years had passed since her tragic death…

"Are you praying the words on that paper will change if you think hard enough?" I looked up to see his smug grin, "Actually I was thinking of your head exploding into nothing but chunks of flesh and puddles of blood," he paled instantly, "You insisted knowing what was on my mind Father," I spat his supposed title and he growled. I smirked knowing he had nothing to say but missed the opportunity to dodge allowing him to punch me hard enough to momentarily daze me, "You should show me more respect Hisana. I could've just dumped you and your sister on the streets to live a happier life as a single man," I rubbed my throbbing jaw glaring at him, "Isn't there a bottle you should be searching for the bottom of?" said bottle smashes against my head knocking me to the floor and I'm grateful Rukia's in school else she'd be in tears. I struggled to raise myself hissing in pain while holding the bloody wound, hot blood oozed against my palm, "I won't tell you again,"

"G-go to hell," he kicked me hard. I heard several snaps, I coughed violently after being winded then he grabbed a fistful of my hair forcing me to look at him, "Apologize or I'll punish you for cursing," I spat in face earning a broken nose. He grabbed something that instantly ended my fearlessness, an icy knife pressed to my sensitive ear, "No, no, please don't! Not my ear," he smirked sinisterly...For a human, he's such a dirty bastard. "Are you sorry?" he taunted menacingly, "Yes," I was forced to swallow my pride if it meant I could keep my ear. He let go and sliced my cheek, "That's a good girl," he ruffled my hair with mock affection before walked out of my room. I slammed the door so hard the glass in the far window shuddered, slumping to the floor I lifted my shirt seeing a nasty bruise had already formed on my side, "Damn…" I hissed sharply slowly standing as my body screeched in protest. "Get yer ass to school! Don't want stupid people at my door over you," Yet you don't think they'll question my physical injuries do you? I had to tend my bleeding head that was giving my painful headaches and dizzy spells with every move before going to school. I don't have any classes til nine and it's only seven forty-five...Might as well go for breakfast since I doubt there's food here, I thought bitterly slipping on my shoes before heading out.

The sun wasn't of any help, just worsening my headaches. Wish I brought sunglasses had I known it'd be this sunny out. I walked along the trees to avoid pounding headaches and cut through the shady park to get to school. I lightly touched the walls once inside since another dizzy spell was cast upon me affecting my balance. I closed my eyes focusing on sound, the halls were empty and all the relieving quiet, all I could hear was the faint ticking of my watch that read seven fifty-two. Shit. Classes have started. I hurried to the cafeteria seeing it empty and beelined for the vending machines seeing what the metal food gods had to offer. I swore the stolen cash had a pulse or was just crying to be spent, my tail lightly swished with thought as I scanned the items. Although cold, a plastic wrapped ham and cheese sandwich did sound rather pleasing, toss in a bag of chips with bottle of water and I've got a meal for less than five bucks. It wasn't much of a victory but it sure beat starving til eleven thirty, my jaw was tender after being sucker punched. Once I finished it was a heavy debate...hide in the library til classes started or go to the infirmary for medication? Well, I can suffer all day in agony effectively worsening it come gym before lunch all in the good name of fiction or I can live off dull throb here and there...I walked to the infirmary which was taking longer than desired. Walking with broken ribs was a major pain in ass as well as my side forcing me to stop and nurse the pain. It was eight twelve by the time I reached the door, "Hello?" I cursed how I wheezed with pain, "Tsuyo-chan,"

"Unohana-sempai," her eyes met the bruise on my jaw, "Come sit down," I whimpered sitting, "I-I just need some aspirin or Tylenol then I'll be off to class," her smile told many stories and sent an icy chill down my spine, "Please? I promise I'll have it checked out after school," I pleaded not wanting her to do the right thing. She gave me ice and two Tylenols with a gentle threat if I came back here before going to the doctors there would be major consequences. I shuddered in fear, "Have a nice day," I kindly waved and sighed once I was well away, "Ooh, one should know to never face her wrath," I still had time before class so I climbed my way to the third floor then wandered between the tall shelves skimming titles, grabbed a book, and claimed my spot. The perfect place was a chair nestled in the far corner of the library away from the social center, right next to a heating vent, and angled so the sunlight warmed the chair.

The familiar beeping of my watch snapped me out of my realm, sadly it was time for my class so I marked the page and slipped it into my bag rising from the soft cushion. Is it odd that there are approximately seventy-two Nekos in this school and I don't have one class with any of them? On my first day, actually first week everyone proceeded to stare like they've never seen a Neko in their life...it was irritating but now I just blend into the shadows removing my existence. Trigonometry was the least entertaining so I gazed out the window wondering how Rukia was doing in school...Maybe I'll go see her during lunch hours. She'll be on the playground by then. "...right Tsuyo?"

"Huh?"

"Perhaps finding the number of clouds outside is easier than the number on the board Miss Tsuyo," I looked to the board and was completely lost, "Maybe you would like to stay after class?"

"No Sensei,"

"Then do pay attention," there were scattered snickers and chuckles. I rested my chin in my palm now forced to follow along else I'll be given yet another lecture, teachers say I'm smart and I am but class tend to lose my attention somewhere within the lesson.

…

I stood at the playground waiting for Rukia, my little sister loves nothing more than to be center of attention with a cute smile on her face, "Onee-san!" her hair was done in twin pigtails. I knelt with my arms open and she practically threw herself into them, "Hi Rukia. Are you having a good day?"

"Yeah! I made a picture!"

"Really now? Can I see it?" I asked and her smile fell, "I, well...it-it inside,"

"In your classroom?" she nodded, "That's okay," I cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead, "You can show me when I pick you up after school," her ears perked up as her tiny hands held my fingers, "Really?" I couldn't help smiling at my adorable imouto, "Of course," she hugged me and I bit my tongue to prevent sounds of anguish. "Onee-san what happened to your face?" Uh-oh. "A boy accidentally hit me in gym class,"

"He did? Did you beat him up?" I laughed at her enthusiasm for defense, "No sweetie,"

"Why not?" she asked with her eyes large with curiosity, "I could never hurt someone," I told her stroking her ears, "I'll do it! I'll protect you Onee-san!" She's stubborn like Mom…"But you're only five. I'm protecting you,"

"But Otou-san said you'll get sick when you get older and I wanna protect you," He...he wasn't supposed to tell her! "What exactly did he say?" I asked picking her up heading out of the blazing heat, "He said you have ter-ter...terbosis!" I giggled thinking how at least she's trying. "It's tuberculosis honeybun," I brushed her thick hair from her face once a breeze settled, "Yeah, he said that. I wanna help you," it's painful to hear it come from a five year old. "Sweetheart you don't need to worry about that, okay? All you need to do is be happy. Can you promise Onee-san you'll not worry about it," her ears lowered in disappointment, "Okay," she mumbled. "Thank you Kitten," I hugged her tightly then sat in the grass adjusting her on my hips, "Do you want to play with everyone else? I have to go soon,"

"Can you stay? Please?" I gave her a gentle smile, "Yeah. I can stay," she hugged me burrowing her face in the crook of my neck and I rubbed her back humming softly. I would gladly report him to the police but never want to be torn away from her...it'd hurt us both.

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A/N: I know its kinda short and hope I can make longer ones in the future but till then good reviews plz! Xp