I didn't sleep a wink. One of the arrancars had brought us a bed so we didn't have to sleep on the floor.

Having a bed only made me think that my stay was being more permanent in this terrible place.

Orihime was still asleep next to me. I got out of bed and just sat on the floor, that night refusing to let me sleep

*****

*2 years earlier*

I had just gotten out of school and was walking home with Orihime.

"I'm having dinner if you want to come over," Orihime smiled at me. As much as I love the girl her cooking was disgusting.

"I can't, my parents wanted me home tonight. How about tomorrow?" I smiled at her.

Orihime was the best friend I could ever ask for. She was the sweetest and most caring soul I had ever met.

"Aw, okay," she pouted but soon was smiling again. We got to her house and I bid her goodbye.

I walked to my house. The wind blowing back my hair. It looked like it was about to storm. I walked faster, I was only about a minute away.

I rounded the corner to my house. A tiny place, but that was all we ever needed.

I unlocked the front door and walked in, shutting and locking the door when I got in.

"Hi honey," my mom said.

"Hi mom," I answered back. I sat my bag at the door, I wanted just a little bit of a break before I started doing my homework.

I turned on the radio, listening to some mindless drabble. I sighed a bit and laid on the couch.

Something felt off. I couldn't tell what it was, but before I could think, the door opened.

It was just my dad. My dad was shorter with black hair and beginning to bald. My dad looked so tired.

"Hi dad," I said. He smiled at me but said nothing. My dad worked so hard. That reminded me I wanted to go and turn in my application to that convenience store a couple blocks down the road.

"I'm going to be right back," I yelled to my parents who were in the kitchen when all of a sudden I heard a loud bang and was sent flying back.

I landed on my back at the corner of the living room, I looked up and saw it. A terrifying monster.

The monster towered over everything in the city. It was huge and had a mask covering its entire face. What is that thing?

"Maaya!" I heard my mom and dad yell.

"You smell delicious," the monster grumbled as he looked at me. He brought his face closer to me and I froze with fear.

My parents came in and stood in the way of me.

"Oh so you want to be eaten too," he mused. He grabbed them both and brought them to his mouth.

"Maaya run!" They both yelled.

"Mom! Dad!" I yelled, tears were streaming down my face. My fault. All of this is my fault.

"Run now!" My dad yelled. His tone of voice made me get up and run.

I turned around though. Was he after me?

I turned around at the wrong time.

"NO!" I screamed as he threw my parents into his mouth. An endless flow of tears poured down my face as I tried to run. I didn't know where I would hide. I didn't know what to do, all I did was run. 

"You think you can outrun me?" The monster's voice said. He was close behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut, but kept running. 

But what was the point? 

The point was that my parents sacrificed themselves to save me. I had to do everything I could to stay alive. For them.

I opened my eyes and ran through the streets. I saw a little store, Urahara Shop, well it was as good as it gets. 

I ran to the shop and opened the doors. No one was in here. I hoped that the monster wouldn't destroy the shop. 

I hid behind one of the displays, shaking and crying silently. 

Mom. Her smile, I would never see it again. Dad, I'd never get to hear stories of when he was little anymore. 

I closed my eyes, trying to convince myself it was all a nightmare and that I needed to wake up.

They can't be gone, they can't be. I don't know how to go one without two of the most important people in my life. 

The door opened and I shook anxiously and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Are you alright?" A voice said behind me and I screamed and punched the man behind me.

"Woah, wasn't expecting that." He mumbled and I looked at the man on the floor. He had a hat on that hid his face, and a green outfit on with clogs. 

"I'm sorry!" I apologized furiously.

"It's quite alright." He stood up and looked down at me. "Why are you hiding in my shop?" 

Oh this was his shop? Shit, now I really feel bad for hitting him.

"I was being chased by a monster," I said quietly.

"A monster?" He asked me. I widened my eyes when I realized I probably sound crazy.

"I-I'm sorry," I said again.

"No, I saw the monster, I believe you. You look really shook up," he said. 

Tears welled in my eyes again and the man's face became concerned.

"I can't erase her memory," he said so quietly that I almost didn't hear him.

"What?" I yelled.

"Shit. Okay, let me get you some tea and we can talk about what happened and you can tell me why you're so upset." He walked out of the room.

I looked around the store. Looked a little gloomy to be a store. 

I closed my eyes and squeezed my fists together. It was all my fault. That monster was after me. I couldn't protect my parents. I couldn't save them, it's my fault that they are dead. 

I sank to the floor and just started sobbing. It wasn't an awful nightmare, it was my reality. Losing my parents and it was all my fault. I should have been the one to die, not them. 

I don't know how long I sat there sobbing. I couldn't move, everything hurt. 

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jolted around. The man was behind me, his face looked pained.

"Come with me, we can talk about what happened," he said. I nodded and stood, trying to calm myself down. 

He led me to a room with a small table where he had the tea set up. I sat down and he sat down across from me.

"So, what do you think that monster was?" He asked as he sipped some of his tea.

"I don't know," I said truthfully.

"Why are you so upset?"

I froze. The image of my parents being thrown into that thing's mouth came to the front of my mind and I put my head in my hands and started crying.

"My parents-that thing-ate them," I said between gasps. I didn't look up at the man as I said it, I couldn't even believe I said words like that.

"I'm so sorry," he said, sadness laced his voice. 

I took a breath between my sobs, trying to calm down. I looked up at him and he was just looking at me sadly.

"Do you have anywhere to go?" He asked me. 

"I can maybe see if a friend can put me up for awhile, but family wise no." 

"I see. Would you like me to explain what that thing was?"

I nodded my head. 

"It was a hollow. A hollow was once a human soul that was stuck on earth instead of crossing over. The soul most likely ended up staying in the human world too long and turned into a hollow. The hollow then seeks to eat other souls or people that have spiritual pressure in order to gain more power." He took another sip of his tea.

"You have a lot of spiritual pressure. That hollow sensed you and was planning on devouring you." 

My body shook. 

"I know this is a lot to take in, I shouldn't even be telling you this, but odds are you're going to keep encountering them again and again. If you would like, I can offer you a place to stay here," the man said.

"Maybe just until I find a new place," I said shyly. He gave me a smile.

"Great! You can help with the duties of the shop and I can also teach you to defend yourself," he said. He seemed way too happy, but I couldn't tell if he was just that way to try to make me feel better.

"I'm Kisuke Urahara," he said and shook my hand. 

******

I opened my eyes. I was back in the room. I miss Kisuke.

Kisuke. I ended up living with him until I was taken by that arrancar. Kisuke was the one who discovered I had powers, we kept them secret to protect me.

Some good that did. 

A tear slid down my cheek as the door opened. I wish these memories would just go away.