I sat alone in the hallway on the floor studying. After spending my entire lunch period with Rukia I had to once again resort to vending machine food and have half the money I stole leftover. Maybe I'll take Rukia to get some candy after I pick her up...I smiled softly to myself, "Here kitty, kitty, kitty~" I froze slowly turning to three guys standing with smirks on their faces. It took three seconds to scramble up and attempt to bolt when my tail was painfully yanked, my ear snatched, and a fist implanted in my stomach, "Don't run! Let's have some fun!"

"No! Let go of me!" I writhed in his grip struggling to free myself. My hands shot up and I wretched his fingers til a satisfying snap rang out in my ears. He howled in pain releasing my throbbing ear, I managed to block a kick directed to my ribs but not the agonizing crunch of bone bending against its will. I bit my lip silencing a whimper, then threw a solid punch to my assailant's face regretting it as my knuckles smashed against his hard nose and cheekbone enough to make him bleed, I cradled my bloody hand to my chest panting and froze unable to stop the roaring bull charging at me. He tackled me hard so my head bounced off the titled floor erupting a skull splitting headache and dancing colorful stars flitting across my vision. I grabbed a fistful of his hair yanking and repeatedly swinging at his face ignoring our blood mixing together and pouring all over the both of us. A foot cracked upside my head so I tasted rich copper and spat it whilst clutching my head as it violently pounded, high pitched ringing blared in my overly sensitive ears raising tears to my eyes, I somehow escaped a highspeed kick and spun away from the blonde that ran like a football player to knock me back down. I panted shaking my head to clear the blurring vision when a sharp pain entered my left arm, I stumbled back looking to find a pocketknife lodged in my arm and yanked it out kicking it across the hall and under a door out of harm's reach. The brunette grabbed my arm quickly bringing his fist to meet my face but I ducked, unfortunately his firm grip and my quick movement resulted in a loud POP. I screamed kicking him in the groin with as much force as I could muster successfully freeing myself as my bleeding arm now hung limp and uselessly by my side. I growled in fury, "Neko-bitch!" I was too slow, a heavy kick to the back sent me soaring down the hall before my body bounced and rolled skidding to a stop as I used my good hand and knees to stop completely. Blood rained onto the floor from my nose that hit the floor first after the attack, I shakily rose to have the blonde yank me up by my ears and meet my face with his knee, "Hey!" I was kicked into the wall gasping for air and coughing blood when three supervisors finally showed up. Typical how they immediately tried to put the blame on me, naturally it would've worked had one not been caught in the process of kicking the shit and air out of my lungs. I was helped to my feet, "Is your arm okay?" seeing Matsumoto wasn't really surprising. She has a habit of cutting classes, "Th...they dis-dislocated it,"

"Escort her to the infirmary then when she's patched up bring her straight to the principal's office,"

"Of course sir,"

…

The walk was mostly silent, "I'm sorry this happened to you Hisana,"

"It's not your fault. It happens a lot to people like me...even more at home," I mumbled the last. "How could it have that gone on for so long and no one notice?!"

"It...it's not that people don't notice but let it go on if its a Neko that's being tortured. People have a habit of turning the other cheek instead of helping because they're disgusted by our imperfection, because we are different they simply don't care…" she frowned then her bright blue eyes glittered and I mentally groaned knowing she just got a crazy thought, "Why don't you stay at my place for awhile?"

"Now why would I-"

What?

"What did you say?" maybe there's blood in my ears, "Stay with me. At least til you're not covered in bruises and blood...or as long as you want. Bring Rukia-chan! It'll be so much fun!" she squealed in delight and my ears lowered, "I-I don't know Mats-"

"Don't you dare say it! We're best friends and I told you to stop calling me by my last name!" I sighed at her stubbornness, "Rangiku-san...I don't know about my father,"

"Oh please, once I bust out my secret weapon he won't be able to say no,"

"Is your secret weapon your over sized chest?" I deadpanned and she laughed richly, "Oh Hisana-chan, I know you're jealous,"

"Wha-?!" a hot blush burst out all over my face like an exploded pen, "I-I am not hardly jealous of your w-watermelons! I happen to be perfectly happy with my chest. I won't suffocate someone when I hug them," I smirked knowing it gets her every time. I laughed as we took the elevator down to flights leaning against the wall while she held her sides laughing, "You're a good friend Rangiku-san,"

"I'm your best friend Hisana-chan," And I'll never regret that day in first grade, "Do...do you mean it?" I asked after moments of silence, "Huh?" she brushed her thick strawberry blonde hair out of her face, "Can...can we stay with you?"

"Of course! As long as you want," she took two short steps and carefully embraced me, "No one will hurt you there," she gently stroked the back of my head and felt the hard knot causing me to wince with a soft hiss. "Sorry,"

"It's okay,"

"Want me to pop your arm back in?" I shook my head, "I'm in enough pain already,"

"It'll be quick. Like a bandaid," she insisted, "Rangiku, I'd really rather just wait til-" SNAP! "OW! You bitch!" I growled but the pain really was as quick as ripping off a bandaid. She smirked victoriously, "Thank you," I grumbled ignoring her laugh, "Come on, Unohana-san is just down the hall," she chirped tugging me along. I've been there so many times that I could get there blindfolded.

I sat on the bed holding ice to my nose waiting to be discharged. Rangiku was texting and giggling giving the impression that she was more than likely talking to Ichimaru-san. "Can we just skip the principal's office? I gotta pick up Rukia in fifteen minutes and I don't need a lecture on top of a migraine," I whispered, "Can I pick her up? Oh please, Hisana-chan?! I haven't seen her in years!"

"You just saw her last month!" I hissed quietly, "It's been too long!" she whined jutting out her lip in a pout clasping her hands together making the largest puppy eyes her face could handle. I let my head drop with a reluctant sigh, "If you drop me off at your house I'll let you pick her up, fair enough?" she squealed pulling me into a bone crushing hug, "This is why you're my favorite kitty! I love you so much!"

"C-can't...breathe," I wheezed and she released me instantaneously. "Let's go!" she drove like a maniac, practically threw me out of the car, shouted something, and took off. "Man, she loves my little sister too much," I sighed shaking my head, she gave me the keys to get in, I'm pretty sure she said help yourself to anything so...I went into the kitchen opening the fridge. After pulling out a can of grape soda I stood up to meet the barrel of a shotgun and screamed ducking despite every part of my body reacting at once, "Don't shoot! It's just me!" I yelled, "Tsuyo. What are you doing here?" he lowered the gun and I sighed in relief slowly standing, "Hitsugaya-kun you nearly gave me a heart attack! Why aren't you in school?"

"I have a fever and was vomiting all day. I could ask you the same since school doesn't end for another ten minutes," Stupid smartass fourteen year old. I do respect that he got pushed ahead to high school… "I was attacked in the hallway and cut going to see the principal for a lecture I don't want to hear," I closed the fridge door and sat down, "So I see...where's Matsumoto?"

"She insisted on picking up Rukia,"

"I suspect you'll be staying?"

"Something wrong with your grandmother?" I asked cracking open the can. "They say its just a cold so I'm staying with Matsumoto," he crossed his arms sitting across from me, "How is she? Your sister?" I smiled softly, "She's excellent. She told me she made a picture for me during lunch but left it in her class,"

"What are you gonna say when she asks about you personal canvas being painted black and blue?"

"Nothing,"

"Tsuyo-"

"I can't tell her I'm being beaten! I don't want to burden her childhood with worry and fear. I want her to be happy, okay?" my heart was pounding against my sore ribs creating a dull ache. "I was going to say to do something about it,"

"No! They'll tear us apart and it'll devastate her...and me," I ran my hand through my hair sighing heavily. "I'll think of something but for now I'll just endure it," we heard laughing and the front door open, "I'm gonna catch you!"

"No! Its the tickle monster!" Rukia came running in and hid behind me giggling quietly, "Hmm...I wonder where she went," she feigned confusion looking around slowly creeping up behind Rukia then snatched her up tickling her as she thrashed begging for mercy. "Alright, that's enough. Hey sweetie, did you have a good day?" I asked setting her on my lap after taking her from the tickle monster's clutches. "Yeah! I got to paint!" Oh god...that explains the red and purple disaster all over her shirt and pants. "I can see it all over your face," I chuckled as she reached for her bag, "I show you!" she pulled out a good stack of papers, "It's hard to believe you two are sisters," I looked up at Rangiku curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

"You're just so naturally motherly Hisana-chan. If I ever met her I'd be 100% sure you'd take after her," hearing that drew a mournful smile on my face, "Yeah...guess I do. Someone has to be her parent if not...him," something I forgotten clicked, "Oh! Hey Rukia, wanna go get a special treat?" Her finger painted pictures are absolutely adorable, "Really?!" her violet eyes glittered with childish excitement, "Yeah. I got some money and you've been a really good girl so you deserve a treat," I told her and her eyes just got bigger, "Can we get ice cream?"

"Yes, we can get ice cream. Wanna come Hitsugaya-kun?" I offered and a light blush tinted his cheeks, "Uh! N-no thank you Tsuyo. I-I'll be fine here,"

"Rangiku-san?"

"Sure I'll come! Rukia-chan can ride on my shoulders,"

"Yay!" Rukia loves Rangiku-san like another sister, "Are you sure you'll be okay here on your own?" I asked him and he rapidly nodded, "Okay. We'll be back soon," Rangiku called as we left, "Onee-san what happened? Why are you all bandaid up?" I stifled a laugh, "Onee-san just fell down some stairs on the out of school," I told her reaching up to caress her cheek. She gasped and tightened her grip on poor Rangiku's hair, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Rukia-"

"Yeah, your big sister is really tough! No stairs can beat her up!" Rangiku chimed in reaching up to tickle Rukia, "Be careful Rangiku-san! She could slip," my heart leapt, "I've got her," she waved nonchalantly like I was an overprotective mother.

We were heading to an ice cream parlor but the ice cream truck wasn't far up ahead so we purchased cones off the truck and headed back. "Do you have any homework Rukia?" I had to pry her from Rangiku so she could ride on my shoulders on the way back. I'll have to wash my hair and ears once we get back. I felt another dollop of ice cream drop onto my ear and it responded naturally flicking it away, "You're spilling honey,"

"Sorry,"

"It's okay," I accepted the napkins held out and handed them to her, "Wrap your cone in these so it won't drip,"

"Okay!" I held her ankles, "I have some reading to do. Ooh! I have a new book. Can we read it together?"

"After you have a bath and do your homework," she squirmed in never ending excitement and joy. "You know she's not gonna go to sleep tonight, right?" Rangiku-san asked with a smug grin, "I'll manage," I whispered back.

She was a sticky, creamy mess by the time we walked through the door. "Could you run up to my place and grab some clothes?" I whispered to Rangiku while I cleaned her face with a washcloth, "For her?" she asked,"Both of us...a week's worth should be fine," I moved to her hands, "Okay, arms up!" she raised them so I could remove her ruined shirt then playfully tickle her, "I'll start the bath. You finish getting undressed,"

"I'll be back in a bit~" she sang, "Be careful!" I'm praying she doesn't run into him and get hurt…I sat on the toilet while she played in the tub after having her hair washed with Rangiku-san's shampoo. She had a few bath toys I kept here for nights we stayed over, I got up to get pajamas out of Rangiku-san's room, dressed her, then we went downstairs to do her homework together. "Is this your new book?" I asked picking up the classicCharlotte's Web from the pile on the table, "Uh huh," she crawled into my lap, "Can you do voices Onee-san?" I laughed softly, "Okay. Ready?"

"Yeah!" I'd never want her to get hurt. She's too precious and innocent. I want her to remain pure for the rest of her life.

Rangiku wanted, like really wanted to stay home with me, "No! Go to school,"

"But I don't want you here alone," my tail puffed in irritation swishing wildly behind me, "Rangiku-san go to school now," I hissed feeling my ears flatten atop my head, "Fine, but you won't be here alone,"

"I'll be fine," I shoved her out the door and shut the door before she could object, "Jeez she's a lot to handle," Rukia had been dropped off already and the house was quiet so a short nap couldn't hurt. Just an hour or two then I'll start cleaning this ungodly pigsty Rangiku lives in.

It was so warm and comfy I didn't want to get up. I was surprised to hear myself purring, How long has it been? Ten...eleven years since I last purred? Someone was stroking my ears and occasionally the base of my ear, I couldn't help scooting closer, "Ohayo Hisana-chan," I froze and shot up hitting my head on the male above me. We both groaned in pain, "I-Ichimaru-san! Wh-what are you doing here?" he was rubbing his nose still in his school uniform with the tie loosened, "Rangiku-chan asked me ta come over and cat-sit ya. So here I am," I got chills from his wide grin. I know he is a sweet and gentle person but his face is terrifying, his smile fell. "Did ya not like me pettin' ya? I apologize if it made ya comfortable,"

"No, no. It's perfectly okay Ichimaru-san. You just surprised me," I told him rubbing the sleep from my eyes, "What time is it?"

"Ten o'clock," I nodded sleepily, "Wanna continue yer nap? Ya looked so peaceful," I smiled feeling warmth from his kindness, "No. I'm afraid if I go back to sleep I won't wake up in time to get Rukia," he reached up caressing my cheek with the back of his hand, "Poor Hisana-chan. Ya got bags under yer eyes so heavy ya look like Kenpachi hit ya,"

"When I was at home I never had time for sleep," he pulled my onto his lap gentle not to touch any bruised places that still ache then pulled the blanket off the back of the couch, "Ya just rest. Rangiku and I will take care of lil Rukia-chan for ya, okay?"

"But Ichi-"

"Sleep," he opened his eyes revealing his soft crimson colored irises, "Promise you'll watch her?"

"Like a hawk on a bunny," I giggled and snuggled into his chest, "I trust you," I told him before returning to sleep.