Honey Eyes A Bleach Fanfiction S. Lazic

Memories

It wasn't as if Shinji was really afraid of returning to the old warehouse. The man held no true fear, not of a Hallow or of Ichigo, not even Old Man Yama. So why was he hesitating, sneaking from shadow to shadow and peeking around every corner as if sniffing the air? Hiyori. That's why. That little witch could put the fear in him like no other. He feared the pain he was going to experience upon returning late once again. The bleeding his ears would go through in the name of torture the moment Hiyori got wind of his scent ran terror through his thin veins. She was like a dog on a three legged cat whose neck was bleeding, been hit by a car, and had a bull's eye on its ass! The girl was unbelievable! Just the thought of coming face to face with her made his blood run cold.

The old metal doors of the warehouse structure groaned in a scratching of rusted metal as they were guided open, inch by grating inch. Then came Shinji's slender eyes, narrowed and cautious, as he looked quickly through the parting of the doors. The warehouse seemed to be vacant as far as he could tell with only a few of the dim lights streaming their faint light down from the metal rafters. So far…so good.

Once again the doors groaned as he pushed them wider till his thin, narrow body could slip easily inwards. He stopped right in his tracks as a prickling sensation of warning ran across his flesh. Something wasn't right. By now he should be laid out flat on the cold floor and in severe discomfort, yet by some unknown saving grace of whatever Gods still had an ounce of kindness towards him, he was still standing. His pale eyes narrowed even more as he pulled the doors closed behind him with a loud clank as if trying to draw out Hiyori from the pits of her hiding place.

Silence.

No attack came down upon him. Nothing ever came. His pale, slender eyes shifted to scan the empty void before him. With his hands stuffed into his pants' pockets, the Visored began his cautious trek into the depths of the warehouse, his steps echoing against the cement floor and sheet-metal walls.

'She's around here somewhere, the she-beast,' Shinji muttered within his thoughts. He kept his attention on the shadows as he turned about, looking from the rafters to the corners to the…

"Boy, are you going to be grounded." Love Aikawa snickered from over his newly purchased manga. "It's way past your curfew."

Shinji's steps halted. When did Love get here? And how the hell did Shinji miss him sitting upon the distant couch? Shinji rolled his eyes as he glanced to his afro sporting comrade.

"Shut up," he muttered then groaned as he flopped down to a chair, stretching his trim arms up and over his head. He laid his head against the back of the chair with fingers lacing at his neck. "For your information, my mommy allows me to stay up till midnight." He stuck his pierced tongue outwards with a 'ppth' sound.

"Hiyori's been looking for you all day."

The new voice drew Shinji's eyes to peek out from beneath the rim of his cap to see Rojuro strolling up to join them. He cast Shinji a sly grin and a curt wave before taking a seat next to Love on the couch. Shinji just shrugged, regarding the frilly looking Visored with a bored expression. He scoffed, "I feel loved."

The two other men cast an amused look to each other before one rolled his eyes and the other shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder if you've taken one too many slippers to the face, Shinji," chuckled Rojuro rather daintily.

"Where is the sea-hag anyway?" he asked through a yawn.

The other Visoreds shrugged their shoulders, but it was Love who answered. "I think she's on a girls' night out with Mashiro and Lisa."

"She waited as long as she could for you to get back, but the other two pulled her on out."

"Yeah,' breathed Love with a smirk, 'she bitched and moaned for a few hours, the usual threats to castrate you, then gave up. The three had been planning their little outing for a few weeks now so they didn't want to wait for your Cinderella ass to come home."

"What can I say,' chuckled Shinji, taking in the Heavenly news that all three girls were out, 'my pumpkin broke down." He then glanced to the glowing digital clock off in the distance. "When will they be back?"

"They will not be back for a few hours, at least."

"That's a damn shame." Shinji cast his fellow Visoreds a smug grin. "What will we do without our chaperones?"

"Enjoy the privacy?" Love chuckled, turning another page.

Shinji sniffed. "Meaning, you're just going to sit on your ass and continue reading your Manga, right?"

"Damn right."

"You know that Mihoki ends up with Shouji in the end and that it was Kioraku who shot Mihoki's little sister, right?" Rojuro stated calmly towards Love.

"Damn!"

A few hours, a couple of beers, and some rude jokes later, Shinji made sure that he was secured in the safety that was his private room, which happened to be located far in the depths of the abandoned building, before the girls came wandering back home. Kensei had returned from his 'I train by myself because I'm better than you' training run not long after Rojuro, once again, ruined Love's evening of manga reading. Half an hour later, Hachigen walked into the warehouse with bags of takeout. The food was decent enough, but what Shinji was looking forwards to the most was taking a hot shower and crawling himself into bed. He felt completely and utterly exhausted even though he hadn't done a damn thing to physically strain himself, well…besides that quick dash across town, but that had been hours ago and the stop at the café had rejuvenated him.

The hot shower did him well, soothing his seemingly tired body. By the time he stepped out of the steam, dried himself off, and slipped on a pair of black cotton bottoms, he was ready for a good night's sleep. The crisp, cool sheets of his bed felt wonderful as he slipped into their embrace. Shinji sighed deeply, rolling to his back with his eyes locking to the ceiling.

In the emptiness and the loneliness of his room, with quietude caressing his senses, Shinji fell into his circling thoughts and heavy feelings. While he lay in his stillness, he began to feel the heavy weight of 'not being right'. He felt as if something, or somebody, was missing. Turning his head, he looked to the empty space in his large bed and realized that what he was 'missing' was somebody. Juliana. He just didn't feel right being away from her.

She and her honey colored eyes would not leave his thoughts. When he closed his eyes, he saw her. When he was surrounded by silence, he heard her. She was a curse! Shinji sighed, his lips forming a faint but warm smile. If she was a curse, she was his curse and that was perfectly fine with him.

"What have you done to me?" he asked to the emptiness.

He didn't get an answer from the silence about him. Minutes clicked on by, drawing out the evening hours. Before he knew it, he was fast asleep.

Dreams. They assaulted his slumber…

"Captain Hirako."

Shinji stirred with an annoyed groan upon hearing a sweet voice calling to him, pulling him from his daydream.

"Captain Hirako!"

This time, when his name was spoken, there was a hint of annoyance carried upon the lovely voice. Mumbling soft curses, the 5th division Captain drew his arm away from over his eyes. The sky was so beautiful, clear of any clouds, and there was a faint breeze drifting down and over the rolling hills caring upon it the softest scent of some blooming flower. And there she was. She was like a dream to him, a beautiful dream that Captain Shinji Hirako loved to wake up to.

He watched her stepping towards him, the breeze playing with her long braid of sun touched chestnut teased with hints of red streaming throughout the twisted locks. He loved how the rays of the sun kissed her fair flesh.

"Kazumi,' he mewed softly and without moving from his restful position upon the soft grassy knoll, 'my harmonious beauty, what pleasure do I owe your visit?"

The younger Soul Reaper, 7th seat in squad 1, rolled her eyes as the Captain spoke to her so intimately, even going as far as to use the meaning of her name, which he happened to use as a pet name for her. He always found some way to tease her be it by a seductive look or a playful touch marked by his trade mark sassy grin and wink. She never fell for them, or so she told herself.

When out in the open there were rules that she and Captain Hirako had to play by. The fraternizing, on any level, involving a lower seat member of any squad with any Captain was highly forbidden. Come as it may, Shinji Hirako had tossed aside those rules when participating in his flirtatious play with the 7th seat.

"The Head Captain is requesting your presence right away, Sir," Kazumi replied as politely as she could.

Shinji's nose crinkled as his face screwed up. Yamamoto wanted to see him? Again? This was the fourth time in two days. How much more of the old bastard could he take? Slowly, he sat up with his lean fingers skimming through his long blond hair only to catch upon the ends. He cursed while tugging with a disgruntled curl of his lips till he yanked his fingers free, along with a good amount of hair. Great. Just great. He cast the young woman a flat look as he shook away the torn strands and asked, "What's he want?"

Kazumi shrugged her delicate shoulders, and Shinji followed the movement as if his life depended upon it, even down to the way she flicked a hand against her long braid. She was annoyed, and he loved it only because he caused it. "Sir,' she said with a groaning sigh, 'I don't ask my Captain questions about the orders he gives me. I only obey them and carry them out to the fullest of my abilities."

"Ah, my sweet Kazumi,' Shinji grinned wickedly to her as he stood, 'so blind you are."

"Blind?" she asked with a touch of confusion over his comment. She tipped her chin with the tip of her adorable nose raised.
"Loyal is more like it."

"Eh." He gave an indifferent shrug to her words as he dusted his hands against the backside of his Haori - dare the white fabric be lined with grass stains in an area unbecoming of a Captain.

"Sir, it is not my place to question your reasoning," Kazumi began to say, shaking her head yet those words of hers stopped when she saw white fabric flap out before her view. Her breath caught when feeling the gentle touch of thin yet deadly fingers trailing along her neck, a touch that had her shivering. Drawing in a quick breath, she lifted her eyes following the lines of Captain Hirako's body guided by his fingers lifting her chin.

Their eyes locked.

"Then don't," he whispered warmly as he brought her lips to his, they were too inviting to ignore any longer.

The way her lips parted in her soft, little breaths or the way her lips slowly pulled apart when she began to speak was too damn inviting. "I've missed you," he said against her lips as they molded so perfectly to his. Feeling her slender body shudder, Shinji slipped an arm about her petite frame, drawing her against his thickly clad body. It'd been too long since he had felt the warmth of her against his.

Kazumi pressed her palms flat against Shinji's chest, curling fingers in the dark fabric beneath the Captain's Haori. Her eyes fluttered closed, dusting her cheeks with light lashes the moment the Captain kissed her. She could not deny that she too had missed him. Days had gone by, nearly two weeks, since the two were able to find any time to themselves. So when her Captain ordered her to hunt down Squad 5's Captain, she readily agreed…at least without the outward showing of excitement that instantly pooled within her stomach.

Though Captain Hirako fought the urge to lay her upon the soft grass beneath him and spend the rest of the cool afternoon tasting her lips over and over again, he dare not anger the Head Captain, or worse - risk getting caught in their affair. It was a known fact that the old man watched over Kazumi as if she were his own daughter. There was no doubt that he had some sort of tracking device lodged somewhere in her clothing.

And on that thought, Shinji made a mental note to enjoy removing the troublesome clothing just so he could look for the device. But alas, all good things must come to an end if one wanted to keep on living. So sadly he ended the kiss with a resound sigh. He brought his hands up to cup her cheeks; his fingers played along the curves of her jaw.

There were no words to be said between the two secret lovers. Shinji rested his forehead against hers as he breathed out a comfortable breath as he felt Kazumi relax and lean into him. Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai could wait a little bit longer. This moment was perfect, a moment not to be disturbed for any reason. To live in the moment, that is what Kazumi told Shinji almost every day. To regret nothing, and he never did when it came to their relationship.

"We must return."

Shinji's thin lips turned down in a scowl. He didn't want to hear the truth in her words, but she was right. With a disgruntled groan, he slipped his arms from about her, taking the time for his touch to enjoy one last trail over her clothes. When he opened his eyes and drew back, Kazumi was looking to him - smiling to him. "If we must," he drawled softly while idly tucking back a lock of her chestnut hair behind one of her simply pierced ears, a topaz stone encased in pewter. Simple but beautiful, that was Kazumi Hirowari-Hakagoji.

Her eyes danced with mirth, accented with a delicate but amused chuckle. "Yes, we must." Kazumi closed her eyes as she placed a hand over one of his own to softly nuzzle his palm.

Shinji let his fingertips curl into the soft flesh of her cheek. One last kiss fell upon her sweet lips before he looked into her eyes, those beautiful honey touched eyes, one last time. "Have I mentioned lately how much I dislike the Head Captain?"

"All the time, my love, all the time."

Saint Bridget's bells tolled in a soft, musical chime across the school yard. The cloudy afternoon was coming to a close when the massive wooden doors of the school's main building opened with a loud clank. The old school spilled forth its contents of overly excited school girls. It was the weekend! Freedom rang from the calls of the students.

Shinji had arrived early only because he had skipped school that entire day. Why just miss one class when he could just skip the whole day? He had woken late that morning, unable to pull himself from the warmth that was not only his bed but the dream he had enjoyed that night. Even after four cups of coffee, Shinji still could not get himself operating by the time noon rolled around. Hiyori's curses, which were unbecoming of a lady, bounced right off him as he had stared at his untouched breakfast. Her threats of inflicting bodily harmed had rolled right off him. After that dream, that lovely dream, Shinji couldn't focus on anything let alone her insane bitching. Hiyori had not even finished her morning complaints when he shoved a hand against her face, pushed her away then walked out of the building. He was in no mood to mess about with her complaints. So he spent the day wandering Karakura town till Juliana's classes ended.

He waited patiently for her beneath a shade tree where he leaned casually against the wall.

"Shinji!"

And there it was, the one voice he had been listening for amongst the river of other high pitched and annoying voices. He smirked and pushed away from the wall to slowly twist his body till he came to face her. "Hey there," he drawled out lazily. "How was your day?"

Juliana shrugged her shoulders as she stepped up next to him.
"Not bad, I guess. Though the day seemed to drag on rather slowly."

"Tell me about it," muttered Shinji with a roll of his eyes.

Juliana smiled softly to him then blinked as she realized that he was not wearing his cap this day. Come to think of it, when had she ever seen him without his cap? With a chuckle, she lifted a hand and flicked at a strand from his blond bangs. She was rewarded with a cross-eyed look from him. "I've never seen you without your cap," said Kazumi in playful remark.

Shinji sniffed. "Is that a problem?"

"No,' she replied with a shake of her head yet still smiling, 'I like you without the cap. This way, I can see your eyes. I like your eyes."

Shinji glanced to the side yet at the same time stuck his tongue out, giving a flash of the silver hoop piercing. Juliana laughed brightly and that laugh brought him to look curiously upon her. "What's so funny?" he inquired.

"Your tongue is pierced. I didn't noticed that till right now." Kazumi leaned forwards as if to have a closer view.

Shinji's eyes went wide as he feigned a gasp then stuck his tongue back out and tried to look down to it, crossing his eyes. He exclaimed with a gasp, "Well, I'll be damned! When did that happen?"

Juliana laughed brightly, and Shinji smirked as he watched the way her features brightened behind her laugh. "You are too much," she said softly then slipped an arm through his. "Now,' she mewed while casting him a seductive glance, 'I believe it is my turn to treat you to coffee, yes?"

Something in the way she looked at him had a full blown body tremble tearing through Shinji. But…oh…did it feel good. Shinji felt his stomach twist with a tight knot when her slender frame pressed against his side. Juliana curled to him with such familiarity as the two began to make their way out of the school yard and down the street. Shinji knew that there was something more to Juliana Stanford, something that kept evading him. Sooner or later he would discover what this 'something' was that kept vexing him. He seemed to have more questions than answers floating about within his head the more time he spent with her. Though he knew that the nagging he felt deep within his subconscious wasn't exactly a bad thing, it wasn't a good thing either.

The two had made light conversations on anything and everything that came to their minds while they laughed and teased one another. Juliana would blush and Shinji would grin when their flirtatious comments tickled her adorable awkwardness. Their innocent flirting became a game between the two, a friendly and delightful game. Every so often Shinji would state such a brash comment, or compliment, that Juliana would gasp, blush, and swat his shoulder while telling him to hush!

"Is this going to be a habit, Shinji?" Juliana asked cheerfully as they walked on towards the coffee shop unaware of his internal turmoil.

"What do you mean?" he asked with his slender eyes glancing the few inches down to her.

"Going for coffee every day," she clarified, smiling as she looked up to meet his gaze. "It's a long walk for you, going to my school to meet me and then walk over here for coffee. You won't get home in time to get any school work done."

Shinji snorted. "That might be true, if I did any of my work to begin with." The flat, patronizing look from her brought Shinji to flash his trademark grin. "Bad boy, remember? Besides,' he added with a shrug, 'the coffee shop is half way back to my place from your school. It's not that difficult of a walk when it's for a good cause."

There went her cheeks again! Juliana felt her flesh go warm and red. "And what, pray tell, is that cause?"

"You."

"Shinji!" she laughed, nudging his thin hip that drew a barking laugh from him.

What happened next happened too fast.

The two had been in the middle of a laugh when Juliana's eyes went wide and she found herself frozen in place. Her body jerked violently a few times as her lips parted in a silent cry of utter panic! Shinji felt it too, intense Spiritual Pressure. He acted quickly, moving into fluid motion to catch her buckling body within his arms before she fell to the pavement. To Shinji Hirako the sensation had little effect, he was a Visored and an ex-captain after all, but to Juliana the feeling must had been immense, bearing down upon her to the point where her soul quaked.

Shinji didn't have time to ask himself how Juliana had not only felt the sudden come on of spiritual pressure but had also reacted to it. The only way she could have sensed it and reacted to it in kind was to be spiritually aware herself!

She began to shake in his arms, trembling so badly that he had to tighten his arms about her in order to hold her safely against him. Sweat had broken out across her brow, sticking a few strands of chestnut strands to her temples. Her skin had gone cold.

"Don't worry,' he whispered, trying his best to sooth her with not only his voice but by gentle strokes along her brow, 'I've got you. You're safe."

Shinji was too concerned, too attentive to soothing the panic that Juliana must have been feeling, that he didn't realize that the Spiritual Pressure was coming closer to them and from a creature born of pure evil. When her honey touched eyes opened, filled with complete and unimaginable fear and glancing over his shoulder, Shinji knew the source of the disturbance was there. He slowly, methodically turned his head with his eyes narrowing to dangerous and murderous slits and his lips pulled back with a cruel almost sadistic snarl as he gathered Juliana's quivering body against his chest, holding her protectively within his arms.

"Hallow…" he hissed, his voice dripping with rage.

Hallow.

Shinji's lips curled in to a snarl of wrath. The Hallow had done this to Juliana, turned her into a frightened and quivering doll frozen in terror. The creature was huge! Four limbs of muscle and sickly green flesh resembling dried, shriveled up leather stretched out from its 'human' like torso. The rest of its body, long and slender, resembled that of some reptile complete with black oozing scales and a tail tipped with protruding spikes. Four hands ended in talons instead of fingers, all sharpened in to at least three feet of blades and all curling and scraping against themselves. Shinji's stomach twisted in sickness when his eyes looked up to the Hallow's mask of white bone forming long over its head and down over its horse-like facial structure. Horns stuck out from the top, curling like a demon's, and spikes protruded outward, going down both sides of its cheeks from thickest to smallest but all very much deadly. Its eye sockets were sunken in leaving little for the Visored to see but a faint yellowish glow.

This 'thing' had once been a human soul.

Shinji's lips flattened when the creature parted its jowls, letting slide out its slithery forked tongue that dripped with thick saliva. "That's just disgusting…" That was it. Shinji wasn't going to eat for a month!

As a Soul Reaper, he had seen some twisted Hallows over his long life, but this one took the damn cake of nightmares.

The softest whimper, laced with fear, touched Shinji's ears and drew his attention down to the young woman he held within his arms. Juliana's face had paled even more as she pressed her upper body as tightly as she could against his thin chest. Instinctively, he bent his form over hers to shield her from the Hallow's attention. He couldn't just sit here and do nothing. He had to dispatch the Hallow if for no other reason than to protect her. But what the hell was he supposed to do, leave her on the sidewalk unprotected as he pranced off to battle the Hallow? He had a duty to protect Juliana. If possible, he could leave her here and draw the Hallow's attention further away where she could avoid being caught in the cross-fire of the battle.

The creature, no - the monster, threw back its head and stretched its four arms out with muscles flexing under its impossible strength as it released the tall-tailed sound that gave the being its name. The sound was indescribable, a cry mixed with a soul curdling howl that no living creature could create. Shinji knew that howl all too well, and to him it was the call of ecstasy as the Hallow prepared itself for the pleasures of carnage. It was backwards though, a howl created upon the prospects of pleasure should only come after the act was complete and only in the purest form that was the idea of excitement…not like this! In fact, the Visored remembered releasing such a sound as wave after wave of his own pleasure tore from his body during his own sexual delights shared with the one woman who would forever hold his soul.

"Shin…ji…"

Shinji tore his gaze from the Hallow upon hearing the trembling whisper that was his name. Juliana now had an impossible grip on his shirt with her fingers curled so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She was looking not at him but directly towards the Hallow. She saw it! Shinji could see frightening recognition behind those honey eyes. No, he wouldn't let her see such a nightmare as this, so he quickly slid fingers into her chestnut hair and pressed her face into the crook of his neck and shoulder. "Don't look,' he hissed in a harsh yet gentle command, 'don't you dare look."

Now Shinji was pissed off. He was enjoying his time with Juliana till this beast reared its ugly head. He wanted his damn coffee, and he wanted to see the way Juliana's cheeks began to tickle with pink when he made a cheeky comment. All he wanted was to have another pleasant afternoon at the coffee shop with her. Was that too much to ask?

Alright, Shinji was more than just pissed off - he was seeing red, the color of rage. An enraged Visored, ex-Captain of the Thirteen Court Guards was a very…very bad thing. A decision had to be made, and it had to be made quickly as the Hallow tipped its masked face as if catching eye and scent of the Visored and the trembling piece of mortal flesh held within Shinji's arms. It was obvious that the Hallow was more interested in Juliana than Shinji as its glowing beady eyes locked onto her, its tongue lulling forth to lap at its jowls. Dining on Shinji would mean power, yet feasting on Juliana would be a banquet of purity.

"Back off, freak face,' Shinji snarled, his right hand flexing, 'you've already made me miss my coffee date with this young lady, and that has me really pissed me off. I warn you, if you make me put her down, you're going to be in a shit load of trouble."

Shinji's inner-hallow cackled with laughable delight to the scene playing out before its eyes, for it knew that soon it would be play time. Shinji would be forced to act. There was a good chance that the Hallow would be destroyed before a drop of its spit landed anywhere near Juliana. If that were true, then why wasn't he giving into his powers and proceeding to rip the creature's innards out?

The Hallow would not afford wasting the opportunity to feed upon tantalizing mortal meal, so the thing gave another bellowed cry before it raised a set of knife-like talons high into the air. Its lower body coiled with pure power, all muscle and strength, gathering its energy that it used to spring forwards in attack. It lunged onward taking three massive steps before leaping into the air, poised to slash down upon its victims.

"Shit," Shinji snarled to the explosion of Spiritual Pressure released from the Hallow. Julian gave a started yelp before her head rolled against his chest. She had fallen unconscious from the intensity of the being. Shinji made two quick moves on reflexive though. One was using his left hand to cover her face, shielding her from the oncoming attack. He also didn't want her to see his second move. With a cold and heartless smile, Shinji's right hand slid up along his face, curled fingers into his blond hair then began to move back down, dragging with it the giddy cackling of his inner-hallow.

Something suddenly caught his attention off to the right. Fast motion darted down from atop the rooftop of a nearby building. Soul Reaper! He could feel the oncoming Spiritual Pressure. Shinji froze as the Soul Reaper appeared right above the Hallow with blade ready to drive forth. There was no mistaking this particular Soul Reaper considering the man's orange hair and the massive Zanpakutou glistening in the afternoon sun. "Ichigo," Shinji breathed out then called louder, "Ichigo!"

Ichigo Kurosaki flashed a sarcastic grin as he swung Zangetsu over his head, cutting through the air with a metallic hissing kiss. The Hallow gave a startled cry as it turned its attention to the oncoming attack. "Die!" the soul-reaper bellowed as he brought his Zanpakutou barreling down upon the Hallow's upturned face. A direct and deadly blow was delivered. Zangetsu hit true, and with a ring of metal on bone, the creature's mask cracked right in half. There came a blood curdling cry of utter rage as the mask dissipated followed by the dissolution of the Hallow's twisted form.

It was over. It was all over.

Shinji sighed in relief, and with that sigh he realized how tightly he had been holding Juliana against him, nearly squishing her. Ichigo's form weaved into existence a moment later and next to where the Visored was knelt upon the ground. "What took you so long?" Shinji muttered in simmering annoyance. He should honestly be grateful for Ichigo's appearance, though he would never admit such.

Speaking of Ichigo, he curled his lips back in a sarcastic sneer. His eyes narrowed as his right temple twitched. "Is that all the thanks I get for saving your sorry ass?"

Shinji narrowed his eyes to the temporary Soul Reaper. "Take it or leave it."

"Why didn't you take care of that thing? You're right here and all you did was park your ass on the sidewalk to watch the show?" Ichigo grunted while crossing his arms to his chest. "Sorry to say, but you're the worse excuse for a teacher that I've ever known."

Shinji glared daggers into Ichigo's hide and gave a low, threatening growl. "I had something of more importance to see to."

"More important?" asked Ichigo with a brow kicking up in curiosity. "What could be more important than taking out a Hallow?"

Shinji frowned, his gaze turning soft as he looked away from the disappointment dancing within Ichigo's eyes. He didn't have to answer to a Soul Reaper, let alone a temporary one. So why was he feeling guilty all of a sudden? Wasn't Juliana's safety a priority? He could have taken down the Hallow. He could not have taken the risk of leaving her.

"Are you going to answer me or avoid me like you have been the last week?" barked Ichigo in accusation.

"Her," Shinji answered flatly.

"Her?" Ichigo arched a brow as his youthful features twisted in a thorough look of confusion. "What do you mean by her?" He began to look about, fingers scratching in his hair. "I don't see any…her…"

"Here, you idiot," muttered Shinji as he drew away his arms to show the young woman coiled against him.

"Oh…her…" The temporary Soul Reaper exhaled a whistle as he noticed the unconscious girl lying limply in Shinji's arms. "What's wrong with her?" he asked, stepping forwards to kneel next to the two. "Did she get hurt?"

Shinji's eyes softened as he glanced down to Juliana, and his thin lips pulled in to a scowl. She looked so peaceful, so serene pressed against his shoulder. "No,' he replied softly as he gently brushed away a lock of her hair that had fallen across her damp brow, 'she's alright. She felt that Hallow's Spiritual Pressure and fainted. She saw the damn thing too."

"She saw it? She's not a Soul Reaper, is she?"

"Don't be stupid," grumbled Shinji with a roll of his eyes. He leveled a flat and annoyed look to Ichigo. "Does she look like a Soul Reaper to you?"

"Well, not really," replied Ichigo, rubbing a hand against his head.

"She's not. Her name is Juliana Stanford. I met her a few days ago at a coffee shop on my way back from school."

"Juliana Stanford? That's an interesting name. She's not from around here is she?"

For the love of…

Shinji sighed and shook his head. "You're smarter than I thought you were, Ichigo. She's English. Her family moved here when her father's job brought him to town. She goes to Saint Bridget's, a private University for international transfer students, all girls."

"Never heard of the place."

"Look,' Shinji grumbled as he gathered the unconscious girl into his arms, 'let's get out of here before we draw attention."

"There's a park not too far from here," Ichigo said, pointing back over his shoulder.

Only a nod was given in agreement before the two weaved from sight and vanished.

Minutes later - Ichigo Kurosaki was standing before the Visored and the unconscious girl. The two had 'reappeared' within the depths of a park far removed from the view of any wandering eye. Shinji had gently laid the young woman on the top of an old picnic table then sat down next to her upon the edge of the tabletop. There was something about the way Shinji was acting towards the girl that perked Ichigo's interest. There was a gentleness that he observed in Shinji's touch, the way he looked at her, and the way he softly spoke her name. Did Shinji know this girl personally?

Suddenly the curious clouds dissipated in Ichigo's head, clearing his mind on what he was seeing. He grinned and took a step forwards as he swung Zangetsu to rest upon his shoulder. So, this is girl had been the object distracting Shinji's attention over the last few days. Shinji had a girlfriend, even if she was rather young for the spirit being.

Shinji had not wanted Juliana to awaken to people upon the street gawking at her. The park was quiet and would give them the solitude that he wanted. He hoped that she wouldn't remember seeing the Hallow once she woke. After all, mortals didn't do very well once they had witnessed such an evil creature. Their souls couldn't take the shock.

"This isn't the way I wanted this day to go," Shinji muttered under his breath to no one but himself.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ichigo's voice had lost its sarcastic tone as he watched the displays of affection between the Visored and the human. Every little touch from Shinji was as gentle as possible, and filled with worry.

Shinji frowned but didn't look back to Ichigo. "We were walking to the coffee shop just up the street after her classes got out. It's become a bit of a tradition since we met," he said as he continued to stroke fingertips along Juliana's brow. "I wasn't expecting a Hallow to appear."

"Hallow's appear anywhere they damn well please and for whatever reason. Why do you think it showed up here?"

Shinji shrugged. "I don't know, Ichigo." He sighed heavily then sat back. He went on to say, "It looked right at her. It didn't want me. It wanted her."

"Why would it want her? You're a much better snack in ways of gaining power than a mortal girl."

"Hell if I know."

Ichigo shook his head. Why would a Hallow pass up the chance to digest Shinji's power for a simple girl like her? "Tell me something, Shinji."

"What?"

Ichigo moved to stand next to his teacher. He looked down to the girl with a touch of empathy to his gaze. "Who is she to you?"

Shinji didn't reply.

"She's the reason you've been off your game, isn't she? When I was training with Kensei the other day, I overheard Hiyori and the others moaning about you being distant and detached from your responsibilities. I didn't really take notice till you started cutting out our training."

"It's none of yours or anybody else's business, Ichigo. So drop it, alright?"

"Drop it?" Ichigo took a threatening step to his supposed teacher. "This is my training we're talking about, or did you forget that Aizen's just waiting to knock on our door with his army of blood thirsty Arrancars?"

Shinji was on him before Ichigo could blink an eye. Before Ichigo could react, Shinji had a hand about his throat, squeezing ever so slowly. Only when his eyes began to burn and his vision haze did Shinji release his grip, but he didn't let Ichigo go.

Shinji leaned closer, his lips thinning and curling with a predatory snarl. "Let's get one thing clear, Soul Reaper. You don't get to play twenty questions with me. Got it? You don't need to know what I am doing or why I am doing what it is I am doing. And you certainly don't need to know who this girl is. Do I make myself clear?"

Ichigo gave a nod; Shinji released his grip. He stood, backing away. "For your information, I haven't forgotten about Sosuke Aizen. He's still at the top of my ass kicking list."

Ichigo pushed himself to stand, rubbing a hand to his sore throat. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You wouldn't understand," said the Visored in a voice that was almost a somber whisper. He went back to Juliana's side where he sat down and reached forwards to brush fingers against her cheek. She was cold.

"Then tell me so I can understand!" snapped Ichigo, unsure if he should be mad or sympathetic. He hated when people avoided him.

"I wish I could." Shinji sighed with a slow shake of his head. "I can't explain what's going on, not even to myself. All I know is that back there,' he flicked a hand in the direction of the street, 'I didn't care about anybody else but her. The moment you showed up I was about to draw down my mask and rip the skin off that Hallow."

Shinji went on to say, "In all my life I've never questioned the want to battle a Hallow, never even paused to think twice, but I couldn't risk Juliana getting hurt."

"So that's what all this is about, your want to protect this girl?" Ichigo scoffed, adding, "And you said I wouldn't understand. What the hell do you think I was going through every minute I spent in the Seireitei when I went there with my friends to save Rukia? I worried about my friends constantly, worrying if they were alive or if they had died."

Shinji sighed.

Ichigo went on to say, "We all want to protect the ones we care about, Shinji. You of all people should know that to protect them we have to let them go so we can fight what is threatening them!" Ichigo shook his head, dragging a hand through his hair. "Besides, she wouldn't have gotten hurt. You could've handled that Hallow with one hand."

Shinji snorted, and his lips turned down to a scowl. "You sound just like Kisuke…all philosophical."

A gentle moan drew the attention of Ichigo and Shinji to Juliana. She stirred, shifting her head to the side with her lips parting to release another little moan of discomfort. She was finally coming to. Shinji blew out a sigh of relief.

"Looks like your Snow White's waking up, Shinji." Ichigo clapped the Visored on the shoulder.

The clap snapped Shinji's attention and he quickly glanced over his shoulder in time to see Ichigo walking away. "Ichigo!" he called, stopping him.

Ichigo looked back. "Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Smiling, Ichigo waved then turned away once again. "I expect to see you at the warehouse tomorrow for our training. It's been a while since I've kicked your ass. You're getting lazy, old man. Besides, you have something of greater importance to take of right now. Take care."

Shinji smirked then shook his head. Since when had Ichigo ever kicked his ass? Oh well, one day of letting the kid have a swollen ego wouldn't hurt. Would it? "Tomorrow then." When Ichigo's form disappeared, Shinji turned his attention back to Juliana. It was just as Ichigo had said - there was something of greater importance to see to, and that 'something' was currently waking up.

Obviously, Shinji had not realized how unsettling the entire situation had been. He had not noticed till now that his hands were shaking. Why? He had handled the ability of protecting somebody and fighting before, never had a problem with it. So why had he delayed his attack upon the Hallow? For the first time in his entire career of killing Hallows, Shinji didn't have an answer to his own question.

"Where am I?"

The question was asked through the softest of murmurs. Juliana groaned as a wave of dizziness washed over her, twisting a knot of sickness in the pit of her stomach. A paleness had taken her honey touched eyes that tightened shut when the sensation of vertigo slapped her cold. After a second or two of gathering herself, she opened her eyes, blinking a few times, then looked to see Shinji. He looked pale, spooked.

"Shinji?"

"Hey there," he said in a soft breath. A weaving smile took his lips as he leaned closer, reaching out to cup her face in a thin hand. She felt clammy, cold and hot all at the same time. "How ya feeling?"

Juliana licked her dry lips then made an attempt to sit up. However, the moment she arched her back she moaned to a slap of sickness. She hung her head and replied tightly, "I feel nauseas and dizzy, like I have vertigo. What happened to me?"

Dizziness and nausea were both side effects spiritually aware humans felt when confronted with the sensation of overwhelming Spiritual Pressure. The fact that the first contact she had with Spiritual Pressure came from a Hallow and all she had was a bit of dizziness afterwards left Shinji with more questions swirling about within his mind. An ordinary human, and even most low level Soul Reapers, would have wetted themselves from the sheer terror. She fainted from the power that the Hallow emanated, not from her fear.

"You had a fainting spell. You're lucky I caught you, otherwise, you would have a nasty bump to go with your dizziness," explained Shinji as he pressed the back of his palm to her cool forehead.

His touch, how soothing it felt. Juliana sighed, closing her eyes as she gave herself over to the tender sensations of his touch. "I fainted?" she asked with her lips curling in a frown. "I've never fainted before."

The one time he should keep his mouth shut, this would have been the time, but Shinji was Shinji - he couldn't help himself. "Maybe you're pregnant," he teased.

Juliana's eyes opened quickly and narrowed intently. "If I didn't feel so sick to my stomach right now, I would hurt you."

He chuckled as he came to lean to her and blatantly pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You can hurt me any time you want."

Juliana made a pitiful attempt at a chuckle, which ended in a little groan and a flash of discomfort trickling along her forehead and spreading a thin sheen of sweat. Another brush of dizziness touched her. "How long was I out?"

"Not very long," he replied, brushing his fingers along the crease of her forehead in an attempt to ease her. "I brought here to get out of the sun and away from bothersome people."

Something bothered Shinji and it came from a look that crossed Juliana's eyes. They seemed to darken and go distant as if she was slipping deep into thought, a hint of realization shifting to panic. He noticed her breathing began to increase, her chest quivering with each ragged breath.

When the first whimper fell, Shinji cupped her face in his palms and forced her eyes and attention to him. "Look at me." Her eyes lifted to his. "Everything's okay. Breathe."

The moment she looked to him, Juliana began to ease as she took a deep breath, her chest lifting with the fill of air. The air shook within her lungs, stinging just slightly before she coughed the air out. Another breath was taken in followed by another breath taken in and released.

"There we go," he chuckled with a smile as he drew his hands from her cheeks.

"This is all so strange," she whimpered, pressing a palm to her temple. "I think I was dreaming, having a nightmare. I thought I saw…"

"It's the heat,' Shinji butted in, cutting off her words with a scowl tossed up to the bright sun, 'it makes you see things when you overheat."

Perhaps her mind was simply playing tricks with her. However, Juliana had the sinking sensation that what she had seen in her nightmare had not been a part of any dream. She didn't want to remember the creature she saw, it was terrifying. "I'm sorry," Juliana pouted, raising a hand to brush fingers along Shinji's cheek.

"What do you have to be sorry for?" he asked, casting her a slightly playful smile. He took hold of her hand bringing her palm against his chest, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a comforting touch.

"I feel so silly for fainting on you. I didn't mean to mess up our coffee date."

She didn't have anything to apologize for. "So,' said Shinji as he changed the point of conversation, 'this was a date then?"

Juliana blinked with her eyes fluttering. "Date?" she repeated the question.

Shinji nodded, slowly, with a wide grin stretching his lips. "You said date."

"I did?"

Shinji had his eyes narrowing deviously. His grin kicked up to the right as he leaned close enough to her that their noses touched. "Yes, you did…"

Juliana's cheeks flushed at his nearness. There was a dark shadow to his eyes that crept a shiver along her flesh, but not in a bad way, more in the way of hot attraction. She had said the D word, a slip of the tongue. "I…"

When she looked away, Shinji caught her chin within his long fingers. "Don't," he said softly, the teasing grin slipping away from his lips. When their eyes met again, Shinji set his forehead against hers. "Don't ever look away from me," he whispered.

That simple act of setting his forehead to hers snapped a part of Juliana's sub-consciousness. Her breath caught within her slender throat and she stared at his closed eyes and slightly parted lips as a calm silence settled about them. She knew, at that moment, that she was attracted to him, and not upon the outside physical nature of his body that was rather handsome but to a pull that she felt from deep within her. He was unique and quirky, almost awkward, and though his personality was a bit on the odd side, she found him quite interesting. She liked him - truly liked him.

Shinji Hirako had been in her thoughts since the first day they had met. Juliana couldn't push him from her mind, not even with delving into her studies. He went everywhere with her. He went to her bed, to school, and even into her shower. He had started to haunt her to the point where she had screamed into a pillow one night in complete frustration!

Never before had any man embedded himself so far into her thoughts. Juliana had avoided the want to get involved with any guy, and not solely due to her academic schedule but on the fact that there had never been a single point of interest that caught her eye. Then he came and sat next to her. Her entire walk home had been spent with Juliana chastising herself. Kissing a guy she'd only just met! How foolish! How immature!

How absolutely wonderful…

What was there to Shinji Hirako that turned her in to a simpering, flirtatious girl? She had more morals and ethics to her than to bat her eyes and giggle at a stranger. Whenever she was around him it seemed that Juliana was running on autopilot, reacting to his teases and deviancy with silly smiles and playful giggles.

As her thoughts cleared she spoke a whisper of his name, "Shinji…"

"Hmm?" he mumbled, content to caress her skin and breathe in her scent.

"Was this a date?"

"Yeah…"

Smiling, Juliana drew back just enough so she could kiss the tip of his nose. Then she sighed and fully drew away just so she could look down to her watch. The time was growing late, later than she had thought. "It's late," she told him. "I need to get home."

Shinji nodded. "I suppose so, huh? You need to rest after your fainting spell." He tipped his head, gazing to her with a cautious eye. "Maybe we should stop and get you something to eat?"

"I appreciate the offer, Shinji' she replied, shaking her head as she began to slip carefully from the table top, 'but I should be alright. I have a granola bar in my backpack. If I need something to eat, I can nibble on that. Besides, I'm sure my mum has prepared supper."

"Then let me walk you home." Shinji moved to support her when she began to move.

"You don't need to go to such trouble. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to faint on your way home."

"Shinji…"

He tapped her upon the nose and said, "Allow a gentleman to be a gentleman, will ya?" He flashed a smirk as he moved to stand then took her hands, helping to balance her as she stood upon instable legs. "See?" he chuckled. "You're really weak."

"You're more of a hopeless flirt than a gentleman, Shinji."

"And?" He winked to her then took her backpack that had been tossed to the ground. "I'll take this. You just stay close to me. If you start getting dizzy, lean on me, alright?" He slipped on arm about her lower back, keeping her close.

"I feel silly," Juliana mewed, trying so hard not to blush.

"You would look even sillier if I had to carry you home, especially since I have no idea where you live." Shinji smirked as the two began to walk from the park. "Do you know how many weird looks I would get wandering around with a girl passed out in my arms?"

"Too many, I suppose. Thank you," she said to him with an appreciative smile.

In truth, Juliana was still a bit dizzy and unsure of her footing. She was slow in moving as a slight touch of instability hung upon her. Every once in a while she would weave, wincing and moaning as a touch of nausea danced through her, yet Shinji was at her side, angling his body to steady her when she did so. His arm was supportive yet gentle as he walked in step with her.

The two spoke back and forth as they made their way through from the shopping district of the street to an upper class neighborhood about a half a mile or so from the coffee shop. Beautiful, large homes rose up from behind walls, gates, and gardens all lined neatly next to each other on a brick street dotted with glowing street lamps. Shinji was rather shocked since most of Karakura town was built upon a modern design with touches of traditional Japanese architecture. This area seemed to be more modern and European in design.

"Your family must be pretty well off." He made the comment as they passed house after massive house.

Juliana blushed with a faint shrug of her shoulders. "My father works very hard."

"Which one is yours?"

"Two more up on the right."

There it was, a structure surrounded by a large brick wall with ivy crawling lusciously along the bricks. Juliana's house spoke of wealth and sophisticated décor. She even had to use a keypad to unlock the front gate that allowed the two to enter the property. They crossed the front yard and a small side garden that included a wall mounted fountain and white lights hanging among the trees. The house itself was a two story structure of dark wood, stone, and glass from where the glow of warm lights emanated. Compared to this house the buildings of the Soul Society could be considered dull and lifeless. He would never understand the human need to expand and elaborate on everything possible. Then again, he had seen the Kuchiki estate once.

"I'll take my pack now."

Juliana's voice drew Shinji from his thoughts, and with a nod, he handed her backpack over. After a moment of silence between the two, Juliana smiled. He was standing close to her with just a few inches separated them. With the closeness of their bodies, she felt suddenly vulnerable. With any other stranger, their close proximity would touch a bit of fear within her, but she didn't feel any fear with Shinji. Their closeness felt natural to her - comfortable.

With a shy smile, she tucked back a lock of her hear as her eyes drifted down to the ground. "I really do need to thank you, Shinji, for watching out for me. That was very kind of you."

"What was I supposed to do? Let you fall to the ground, cracking your head open and bleeding all over the side walk? What type of guy do you think I…" His words died within his slender throat as he saw Juliana lean to him, one of her hands pressing against his chest. She was kissing him then, kissing his words silent. His pale brown eyes went wide for a moment as his mind registered what was happening, but once his thoughts had settled, Shinji closed his eyes and leaned towards her, meeting her in the kiss.

The simple, sweet kiss took his breath away.

Beneath the soft embrace, Shinji felt his entire body tighten with a hot shudder. Her lips were warm, soft and oh so sweet. She felt wonderful as she pressed to him with her soft curves seemingly made to fit perfectly against his thin physique. He slipped one arm about her waist while the other slid fingers about the back of her neck, further drawing her to the kiss. A whimper tickled his senses as he wrapped her in his arms, and the reaction could be felt as her supple lips parted against his.

'That's it…' Shinji purred from within his mind. He tipped his head, slanting his lips over hers as he deepened the kiss.

Juliana gasped when Shinji let his hot tongue trail along her bottom lip as if seeking permission to enter the warm recess of her mouth. When her lips parted, the kiss deepened even more with a slow trail of his tongue forwards. Damn, she tasted so good.

Juliana's mind disappeared as he innocent kiss turned intense, heating with their growing passion. Her body felt heavenly, tingling all over as her very soul began to scream in delight to the teasing flick of his tongue to her lips. She shivered and moaned, but in the end she wanted more. Juliana's hands trailed up his chest to curl at the junction of his shoulders and neck, caressing the soft flesh she felt beneath his shirt collar. There was no hope, no hope at all, as she plummeted into the pits of enchantment. Her heart pounded wildly, and when she finally drew her mouth from him, she was panting.

So was he.

Shinji licked her taste from his lips, along with a subtle trail of roughened fingertips from around her neck. He trailed his lean digits along her jaw then cupped her cheek within his palm. "Tell me what's going on, Juliana, because I don't understand any of this."

She smiled an unsure smile while leaning to his palm. "I'm not sure."

"You kissed me…"

"I know…"

"What do we do now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Meaning?" she inquired with a brow quirked.

"Us."

Sighing, Juliana drew back from him, leaving Shinji perplexed over her action. "Shinji…"

No, he wouldn't let her complete that sentence or any other questioning thoughts. Shinji knew where her question was heading and there was no way he would let her complete any negative thoughts. "Tell me,' he said, reaching for her again, 'tell me that you feel it, the pull we have to each other."

Juliana watched him take her hand within his long, thin fingers to bring her hand to his lips. She watched as he turned her hand over so his lips could skin along her palm, leaving her feeling a twisting shiver within her stomach. Feel what? Oh yes, the chemistry between the two. Is that what was going on? Was that what had been capturing her attention every minute of the last few days? The realization floored her. She had to admit that there was more to simply 'liking' Shinji when she woke this morning from a very pleasing and intimate dream. Yes, she more than liked the cocky Shinji Hirako.

One simple question remained. Was it possible for her to fall in love with a stranger after only knowing him for a few days? It must be, considering she had kissed him. And that kiss had left her lips tingling. "Oh, Shinji…" she heard herself whisper.

"You feel it. I know you do," he told her in a private whisper, pressing his lips to the corner of hers. Shinji then stepped back from her, shoving his hands into his pants' pockets. Once again that trademark smirking grin of his tugged on his thin lips. "Get some rest, Juliana."

Confusion knitted Juliana's brow as he dropped the subject and stepped away from her. He was acting so nonchalant while her tummy bounced excited about within her. He was acting odd. Then again, when was he not acting odd? Shinji just smiled to her then turned back down the path, heading towards the street. He didn't say anything else, just walked away while leaving her standing and staring at his back. Well, this wouldn't do.

"Shinji wait!" he heard her call after him. He stopped in mid-step then looked over his shoulder. She was fumbling with something as she came towards him then shoved something into his hand before kissing his cheek.

"Please call me," she insisted, taking steps back from him. "I don't want today to be our last date."

When she walked away, rushing up to the front door of the house, Shinji opened his hand to find a piece of paper with her phone number written upon it. He grinned then looked up when she called, "Good night, Shinji Hirako!" The door closed behind her with a little click. After folding the paper, he slid the precious object into the breast-pocket of his polo shirt before he turned and headed back to the street.

As he stepped past the gate, he looked back to the house one last time. "Good night,' he said in a hushed whisper as he closed the gate behind him, 'my Honey Eyes."

24