I don't own Bleach = ( But Ayumi Hitmori is mine =) The song used in the first chapter was Rolling in the Deep- Adele. On with the story.

xXx

Sleep wasn't coming easy to the ex-captain. Why did she have to haunt him? He had tried so hard not to think about her, but it didn't work. Which in turn only made him pissed. He felt a slight twinge of guilt for taking it out on Kurosaki. Maybe if he cleared his mind he wouldn't dream about her…doubtful.

xXx

He hated getting dressed up. The blonde tugged at the collar of the tux he was required to wear. Yoruichi had to celebrate the New Year but holding a 'formal party'. She had asked everyone to dress up and enjoy the New Year with each other. Really Shinji didn't want to spend his time with co-workers; he would have rather been spending it with her.

Hirako sighed loudly and continued to lean against the back wall. The music was boring; he could have been down at The Reaper's End listening to better music and for sure looking at a better sight.

"So did you hear who is supposed to be coming to this party?" Shinji's annoying vice-captain inquired handing his captain a cup of 'punch'.

"Hn?" he eyed Aizen. "Who pray tell?"

"I hear Ayumi Hitmori." The look in Aizen's eyes made Shinji a little leery. It was a slightly darker look than normal.

There came a rush of sound at the main door. Judging from the crowd thee said guest had arrived. Carefully he watched from his position against the back wall. Wearing a long form fitting blue strapless dress, the satin ribbon laced down her corset back hung to her feet, her hair was up in an elegant bun, small pearl earrings and a short pearl necklace.

"Hey! Stop staring so hard!" Thwack! The blonde crumpled to the floor holding his cheek.

"What the hell was that for Hiyori?" he snapped at her.

"Ugh, all the men here make me sick looking at her with lustful eyes!" The short vice-captain put her shoe back on and crossed her arms, turning her face away in somewhat of a pout. She was wearing a long read dress with a short white sweater to cover her arms.

"What are you her mother or something? Why don't you go smack everyone else then?"

"Idiot, you're the only one she keeps looking back to! And she is my sister!" she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Well I don't see the resemblance."

"Duh! She's not my biological sister. But close enough so."

"EH! She never told me she had a sister!" he crossed his arms and pouted feeling left out.

"She doesn't really share her personal life with people." She smiled smugly at the pouting captain.

"Well you would think she'd share that kind of information with her boyfriend." He grumbled scratching the back of his head. He glanced at Hiyori; he could see the vain in her forehead beginning to pop out. That was his cue to leave.

He pushed his way through the crowd, positioning himself in her path. She stumbled backwards into him. She turns quickly, apologizing the whole time.

"Very sorry." She whispers. He smiled down at her winking quickly.

"Well make it up to me with a dance. May I?" he holds his hand out to her as he bows slightly. Taking his hand he leads her out to the dance floor, pulling her close, he slides a hand around to the dip in her back, and holds her other hand up, taking the lead he starts the dance.

"You know you really should have told me about you sister." He whispers into her ear.

"Oh so you met Hiyori? I can never remember what division she is in or else I would have said something sooner."

"Yes, we've met." The sting in his cheek flares up for a brief second. "And I can see why you don't tell people about her." If looks could kill he'd be 6 ft. under; Hiyori would probably be giving him hell tomorrow.

"She's protective is all. She seems to forget I went to the soul reaper academy as well." The music dies down, as the crowd claps. He could feel her trying to step back, refusing to let her go, he pulls he close one last time causing her to smile at him. Giving one good playful push she makes it only an arm's length away before turning back.

"That's my cue. I'll see you after the party." Her smiling face once again fades out to dull light.

xXx

Groggily he cracks one of his eyes open; the motion next to his bed causes him to focus. It's Hiyori…

"What are you doing short stack? It's like the middle of the night." The moonlight briefly shows tears on her face. 'She's been crying again."

"What's wrong?" watching her he sees she's hugging a photo booth picture strip. She'd been in his stuff again.

"Were you dreaming about her again?" the young girl sniffles still looking at the picture strip. Shinji sighs and sits up on his bed.

"Why can't I see her anymore?" she stifles a sob. "I can't see her in my dreams anymore. No matter how hard I try, I can't see her. How come you can?"

"Hiyori…" he whispers down at her.

"IT'S NOT FAIR! I knew her better than you! I LOVED HER MORE THAN YOU! So why do you get to see her?" Throwing down the pictures Hiyori runs out of the room. Her sobs echo down the hall.

"It's getting harder and harder to protect her Ayumi. But I plan to make good on my promise." He mumbles up at the moon. Flopping back down on his pillow, he rolls over; pulling the pillow over his head he closes his eyes. 'Please no more dreams.' Is his last thought before sleep takes him.

xXx

"Orihime! I was getting worried! I was beginning to think I'd have to throw these bean paste cookies out."

"Sorry I'm late Ayumi. I was just out with my Rukia. Lost track of time is all."

"Been hanging out with Rukia a lot these days. I'm beginning to think you don't like my company anymore." The dinner waitress grins at the auburn haired girl as she enters the small whole in the wall dinner. The tiny dinner was a block away from Orihime's apartment. And the owner and only staff person seemed to always be there. Plus this place was the only place she knew that made bean paste cookies.

"We've just got a lot going on. All of my other friends are doing their own thing these days."

"Well that's a shame. You're always a pleasure to have around. I'm getting ready to close up shop can I walk with you?" Orihime nods with a smile. The shop keeper pulls her hair into a long wavy pony tail, though her bangs still hang into her face covering one of her eyes. She begins to wipe down her already clean counters.

"Sure! I live right around the corner." Ayumi smiles, throws her rag into a sink, and ducks into the back. A few seconds later the lights go out, and Ayumi appears again. Hopping over her counter she heads for the door. Grabbing a hot pink handled katana from behind the counter she slides it into a cloth bag than slings it over her shoulder. Both women step outside. The key clicks the lock into place and the two head in the direction of Orihime's apartment.

"So how is your life going?" Waving her hands wildly and shaking her head "Of course you don't have to answer that if you don't want to, it was rude of me to pry. Forgive me." The auburn haired girl hangs her head.

"It's fine. I have a show to perform this weekend. I haven't had one in…well less just say a long time. I'm kind of nervous." The brunette chuckles as she adjusting the strap on her shoulder.

"What's that on your shoulder?"

"This is Shitsuren, (A/N: Japanese for Broken Heart. I checked with 3 different sites so I'm pretty sure that's how it's translated) She keeps the robbers away. Ha-ha."

"You named it?"

"Well actually she came with her name." Ayumi mutters.

"Sounds almost like a zanpakuto." Orihime adds lightly. One hand leaps up covering her mouth.

"What did you call it?" Both stopping in their tracks; Ayumi's aqua eyes burn into Orihime's light brown ones. The look of remorse shone brightly on Orihime's face. Ayumi crumples to the ground.

"All these years I have been trying to avoid the spirit realm and the first friend I make knows about it. Go freaking figure!" she groans holding her head in her hands.

"Wait, you're a soul reaper?"

"No." Ayumi inhales deeply and throws her head up to the sky. "Reapers can't do this…" She brings and holds her left hand over her eye. The bright light and a fimilar event happens; pulling her hand down a white masks follows, turning her pupils yellow and the rest black. The mask was shaped much like Ichigo's except the only thing on this mask are the oval shaped eye hole and a vertical hot pink stripe going down the left side. At the very bottom of the pink is a little black heart. Orihime gasps

"You're a Vizard!" she whispers. She tilts her head confused.

"A what?" her new watery voice sounds. Pulling her mask up and off Ayumi continues to look confused. "You mean you've seen more like me?" Smiling, Orihime nods. "Come on I'll take you to them!"

xXx

It was no use he couldn't stay asleep. He felt bad for Hiyori. Ayumi was the only family she had had left. His life sucked with the dreams, but in his heart he knew it would be a lot worse if he couldn't dream of her anymore. He slid out of bed throwing on his black slacks and a white button down which remained unbuttoned. Out of instinct he grabbed his zanpakuto and headed for the broken down living area.

"Hiyori?" He listened for an answer…nothing. "Where could she have gone?"

"ARHHH." Whipping around just in time blocking a powerful swing from Hiyori. Jumping away from each other; Hiyori lifts her mask glaring at Shinji.

"You think you're the only one who misses her?" she screams at him

"Shut up. You haven't got a clue." He replies calmly.

"You think being the last person to see her makes you special? You stole her from me!"

"Oh yeah? How in the hell did I do that?"

"You married her!" she swung her sword forward pointing it at him. "She was like a sister to me and you took her!"

"Is that how you really feel? Stop thinking you're the only one who wanted to keep her safe! I had to watch as Aizen order Tosen to cut her. I couldn't do anything when she screamed in fright as she began to change. I watched her change!" he threw his hand over his heart as he referred to himself. "Then watched them throw her out of my sight! Be glad you don't have to live with those memories!"

"Um excuse me." A timid voice sounded from the door. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have someone I think you should meet."

xXx

And that's where I'm leaving this chapter at. R & R please!