Sweet Naivety

Chapter 40: Remember to Learn

Chapter 40: Remember to Learn

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"Alright, punk... since you insist on being here, you can help her practice her self-defense moves." Kenpachi grinned, crossing his arms over his chest again.

Grimmjow shrugged, standing next to me with a grin of his own. "Fine." Then Grimmjow turned to me with a spark in his eyes that I was certain I didn't like. "When those scumbags attacked you... how did it start?"

My breath caught in my throat and my heart sped in my chest. Why the hell was he bringing that up?! He knew that I didn't want anyone knowing! I coughed, trying to splutter out an indignant response. "G-Grimmjow!" I barely managed to stutter his name.

Ikkaku immediately rushed over, an outraged expression on his face. "Who the fuck attacked you?!"

"N-No one!" I yelled, feeling my face get red as I glared at Grimmjow, my green eyes narrowed heatedly.

Grimmjow just laughed, clearly amused in spite of my anger.

"Juna!" Ikkaku snapped my name.

"Shut up..." Kenpachi grumbled. "This is why we're doing this... so that she can defend herself." With a bob of his head, he gestured Ikkaku out of the room. "So get out and let me handle it."

Ikkaku narrowed his eyes, but left without another word.

"So..." Kenpachi continued after he was gone. "How were you attacked?"

I sighed, realizing that there would be no getting this cat back into the bag now. With a final glare at Grimmjow, I turned my attention to Kenpachi. "It was a group of men..." I mumbled, shuddering at the memory. "They grabbed me and cornered me."

"And you saved her?" Kenpachi asked, lifting his brow at Grimmjow.

Grimmjow nodded. "Yeah but I didn't see how it started... just saw 'em with her up against the wall."

"How did the initial attack begin?" Kenpachi continued to question, turning his gaze back to me.

I remembered it all too well... even if I had made a severe effort to forget. I hadn't thought too much about it since it had happened... because every time the memory popped back up into my head, I had shoved it away. I was very good at shoving memories away... especially the unpleasant ones... and even the pleasant ones if they kindled unpleasant feelings. I sighed, forcing myself to answer him. "I was trying to cross the street when one of them grabbed me by the wrist and jerked me backward."

"And when your wrist was grabbed, what did you do?" He asked calmly... patiently.

I blinked, not really understanding why he asked, but answering anyway. "I tried to pull away, of course."

He nodded. And he seemed to be contemplating something. "What happened next?"

"I tripped on the curb when he pulled me back... and I fell into him." I looked down at the wooden floor, refusing to close my eyes... I knew that if I did, I would just picture the memory, and I most certainly did not want to do that. I went ahead and continued the recapitulation, since I figured that he would press for more, anyway. "Then they shoved me back against the wall... and surrounded me. I tried to get my pepper spray... but they grabbed my arms. So I kicked... and I hit a shin on one of them and... well... I think I hit another guy's balls..." I blushed at saying the word, but really I was kind of proud of myself. "But they just surrounded me again and covered my mouth when I screamed... then slapped me when I bit their hand." I could see Grimmjow tensing from the corner of my eye, his fists clenching at his sides. Tears were burning at the back of my eyes as I remembered how it had felt... and how humiliating this all was... "They held me still... there were so many of them..." A sob escaped my throat, and I couldn't hold it in. The tears brimmed my eyes, and I did my best to keep them from falling. "I..." I didn't want to talk about anymore of the details, so I skipped the more gruesome ones. "Grimmjow came before they could do anything more than touch me."