(A/n: Hi, readers. Do y'all like this story so far? It's kinda why I haven't really updated in a while; I haven't really had motivation for this. Let me know if I should continue this or not. Enjoy, review, and stuff.)

Deidara was automatically suspicious of the girl when he'd felt her staring at him as he checked out of the inn the next morning. Actually, he'd been suspicious the previous day when he'd nearly run into her on the stairs. She'd frozen, staring at him with a slightly open mouth. But it wasn't the normal stare of the average fangirl she'd given him. There was a flood of emotions that flashed across her face— fear, recognition, and something else he couldn't place— that made him suspicious. His gut was telling him that something wasn't right with her.

He stopped in the doorway of the inn, looking back at the redhead just to see a curtain of red fall across her face. He narrowed his eyes and turned, walking out. It was that look again, as if she knew something. So yes, he'd spy on her for a while, if only to just follow the bad feeling his gut gave him. He stuck his hand in the pouch at his waist, setting his clay creature free seconds later. Walking down the road, he mused to himself, 'If she has any valuable information, I'll know by the end of this mission, hm.'

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I mentally smacked myself as I checked Grimmjow and myself out of the inn. I was pretty sure that Deidara had caught me staring at him, which may mean that I'd be watched for a while. It seemed a bit extreme, I know, but I couldn't never assume that he would dismiss me so easily. Cursing at my inner fangirl, I waited for Grimmjow outside of the inn. "Jeez, took you long enough." I complained when he finally came out a while later.

"Shut up." He threw my bag at me and started down the road.

I glared at his back and stuck my tongue out at him as I jogged to catch up. Once we were out of the small village, he turned to me. "So where to now?"

I gave a half-hearted shrug. "We need to get to a village big enough that sells weapons and some other stuff I need, so I guess we keep going until we find one."

"Well what about that grou—" I turned, slapping my hand over his mouth.

I scowled at him, whispering lowly, "You can't mention that name. They're dangerous, and one of them may be watching us."

He pushed my hand away. "How the hell did you attract that kind of attention this early? We just got here!"

I sighed, running my hand through my hair, "I ran into one of them yesterday when I came back from buying our stuff, and the same one again this morning when I checked us out. He might be suspicious."

Grimmjow shook his head. "This is why I can't leave you alone."

I scowled again, "It wasn't my fault we happened to run into each other. Besides, he doesn't know what I know."

I murmured the last part under my breath. Would he truly watch me? I do know something that may be of value to him, but nothing I did nor said would make him suspicious enough to follow me, right? I scowled. That was the last thing I needed. I'd have to make sure I don't let anything slip and remind Grimmjow to not repeat any of the things I'd told him. I nodded, mentally setting up my plans in my mind. Things shouldn't go wrong as long as we followed those guidelines.

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By the time Grimmjow and I had made it to a village that sold the necessary things we'd need, it was getting late. I'd pick-pocketed a wealthy-looking jerk who'd been rude enough to knock me over in the busy streets to apologize. I scowled at him as he continued down the road, nose up in the air. "I don't really feel bad stealing from a jerk like that." I told Grimmjow.

He shrugged, turning and walking off. "Meh, whatever. Let's get something to eat; I'm starving."

I rolled my eyes and followed after him. "Alright, but we're having ramen."

"No, we had that earlier!" he scowled down at me.

"Then what else are we going to get? Ramen's the cheapest." I retorted.

He snorted. "You're just saying that because you're addicted to the stuff."

I huffed, turning my nose up as I walked ahead. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I heard him chuckling behind me. "Sure you don't."

I ended up giving Grimmjow a certain amount of the money and told him to buy enough for the both of us while I went off to the first store on my list: the art store. I stepped inside and went straight for the ink and paper aisle, crouching down to look at the different types of scrolls they had. I normally used regular copy paper, but I doubted that they had any here for me to use for my magic. I grabbed a few and moved on to get a bottle of black ink and a brush. I turned to go back to the front where the register was when I spotted a familiar mop of black hair. I nearly dropped the things in my hands. "K-Kyo?" the man turned, and I saw a flash of a smile before he was gone. Was I seeing things…?

I blinked, going slowly to the register and paying for my things. When I went to find a weapons store, I saw Grimmjow down the road, talking to someone. Because of how crowded the streets were, I couldn't see who it was. Scowling, I cupped my hands around my mouth and called his name, "Grimmjow!" He'd better have some food if he had time to socialize. I stalked in his direction when I realized he couldn't hear me, shoving past the current of people. When I got a view of the person he was talking to, I froze.

Before I could turn away, the person saw me too, and I was forced to approach the two. "Grimmjow. I got what I needed." I said, eyeing Deidara as I approached the two.

Grimmjow turned to me, a slight scowl on his face. "Took you long enough. I almost ate yours, too." He complained.

"Hi, Tweety." I acknowledged Deidara with a grin, ignoring Grimmjow's complaints.

"You're the girl from the inn, right?" Uh-oh.

I tried not to make my grin look forced as I smiled at him. "Yeah, that was me. I'm Arisu."

"Deidara." He replied.

I nodded, "Nice to meet you. Sorry to cut a pleasant meeting so short, but Grimmjow and I have some business to attend to before we retire for the evening." I said in a mock proper accent with a cheesy grin I couldn't help but let slip.

Deidara gave me a weird look (as well as Grimmjow) before his face settled into an expression of indifference. "Alright then. See you around, I guess."

I nodded and waved politely, grabbing Grimmjow's hand before tugging him away into the crowded street.

I didn't speak until I spotted the weapons store and pulled Grimmjow inside. Once we were safely out of view from the window, I wacked him on the back of the head. "Ow! The hell was that for?!" he yelled.

The clerk gave us a look, and I glared back at her. She looked away.

"Why were you talking to him?" I hissed lowly. "That was one of them!"

He stopped mid-yell, rethinking whatever response he had. "You sure?" He managed finally.

I huffed exasperatedly but nodded. "Yes. He is, and now I'm pretty damn sure he's suspicious." I paced in my spot, panic rising in sharp waves. "We have to move on. Now. Grimmjow, go—"

Grimmjow grabbed my shoulder, turning me to face him. "Calm down, would ya? It can't be that bad. We'll leave and plan on the way to wherever we go, all right?"

I stopped and looked at him, slowing my breathing to force my nerves calm. "Ok. I'm going to have to gather enough supplies for two portals. It's getting too dangerous to keep you around while I figure out how to get home."

Grimmjow scoffed. "Dangerous? Don't make me laugh."

I gave him a look. "Seriously, Grimmjow. Some things are worse here than in Hueco Mundo. Worst case scenario, I'd rather face them alone than drag you into my mess 'cause I know more than you."

A look crossed Grimmjow's face, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned briskly to inspect a shelf of senbon. "Tch. Whatever, just get what you need and let's go."

I nearly smiled at his stubbornness, but instead turned to go inspect the other weapons. "All right."