I woke in a different armchair. A big, plush, maroon one. It smelled of old dogs and stale Febreeze. I knew this chair. I sat up and glanced around. This was my mother's house. The warm glow of the lamps were so comforting compared to the white lights of Los Noches. Why was I here? I got to my feet and wandered into the kitchen. I stopped. My mother was leaning over the stove, cooking something.
"Mom?" I whispered. She didn't hear me. She was humming something.
"It's too bad Kryse died." she hummed into her song, tears trickling down her flushed cheeks. How long had she been crying? "She used to love this stuff."
"Mom," I said louder, hoping that she would turn around.
"It was her favorite." She kept on humming. "She would've asked to have it tomorrow, on her birthday. I have no one to share it with."
I scanned the room. My younger brother was probably at a friend's house, and my older sister had moved out a few months ago.
"Mom." I said even louder.
"If only she was here. I miss her so much."
"Mom!" I practically shouted. She was causing me to cry.
She turned and faced me. She looked a bit surprised. Then she gave me a teary smile.
"Kryse, baby. You need to go back to wherever you came from. You can't stay here. It's time to move on."
"Mom," I sobbed out.
"It's okay, Kryse. I'll be fine."
"Mom, can I ask you a question?"
"Always."
"Someone...who was involved in my death, I think he likes me. He asked me about my feelings for him. I don't know what to say."
"If you like him, tell him. If you hate him, well you're still gonna have to tell him."
"The problem is, I think I love him. It hurts, mom. This love. Out among others, I don't think anyone loves him. I think he's built up a wall. I've heard him talking in his sleep. He calls himself a king. I don't know what to do."
"Treat him like one. It's already in his head. Perhaps you can heal him. Change him. You have eternity to do it."
That was a final statement.
Eternity.
"Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome. I love you, Kryse."
"I love you too."
I reached out towards her. I needed to feel the touch of my mother. My hand slid against her arm, but before I could embrace her, everything began to tilt and spin and fall away.
"Mom!" I screamed at the darkness. "Mom!"
~*~
I woke with a jolt. My face was wet with tears. I was still on Grimmjow's lap and he was watching me with interested eyes. Hot tears brimmed again when I saw him. I grabbed hold of his shirt and cried into his sleeve. His fingers twisted into my hair and he held my head against his scarred chest.
"Grimmjow," I sobbed. "Grimmjow,"
He blinked a couple times. He wasn't used to this sort of thing. I doubt any of his late subordinates came to him looking for comfort like this.
When I started calming down, my sobs slowing to ragged breath, Grimmjow let go of my head and I got off of him. He scanned me with his eyes as I wiped my own with the back of my hand. Then he stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets.
